Giving Tuesday NOW!

While families are self-isolating at home to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, for too many, doing so puts them at a much greater risk. For women and children in abusive and violent homes, social isolation and the stresses of dealing with the pandemic are putting a dangerous strain on already unbearable situations.

On April 5th, 2020, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres announced a domestic violence ceasefire in the wake of the global surge in cases of abuse against women and children. In some countries, reported cases of gender violence have doubled since the lockdowns started.

Guterres points out that “for many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest: in their own homes”.

As a Violence Against Women service provider in Ontario, Yorktown Family Services is concerned about the reports of increased incidents of domestic violence cases around the globe, and in Canada. Experts feel there is the likelihood that many cases go unreported. Women facing abuse during social isolation are confined with their abusers and have fewer opportunities to reach out for help.

Significant income or job loss, existing mental health challenges, and a decrease in availability of community social support are factors that can result in an increase in domestic violence and homicide. With the addition of social isolation, there is rising concerns for the safety of the survivors of domestic abuse.

With the onset of COVID-19, Yorktown Family Services transitioned our services to phone and on-line counselling to continue to provide support to those in need during this stressful time.

To support families leaving violent homes, we provide hotel accommodations for a two-week quarantine period to ensure their safety and the safety of shelter residents. These, and other unforeseen expenses. put a strain on stretched resources.

According to the Assaulted Women’s Help Line, 82% of callers have children. Yorktown has helped hundreds of mothers and their children leave lives of abuse.

Moms like Cynthia.

After enduring years of emotional, verbal and physical abuse from her husband, *Cynthia realized that he was not going to change. “It became clear to me that this would be life as we know it, if I stayed. I didn’t want this for me and certainly not for my daughters *Jewel and *Beth,” Cynthia reflects. She learned about Yorktown’s Violence Against Women (VAW) Programs through an acquaintance and contacted Evelyn, a Housing and Transitional Support Worker. With Evelyn’s on-going support, Cynthia went back to school, changed careers, started a new job, and transitioned out of a life of violence. She is now living with her daughters, free of abuse.

Cynthia says, “I am sharing my story because I want people to know about the services that Yorktown offers women who need help and don’t know where to turn. Through her counselling, her help in connecting to vital resources, and her unwavering encouragement, Evelyn made me feel like I could accomplish anything. I was determined, but even with that, and all the inner strength I could muster, it wouldn’t have been enough without Evelyn’s incredible support,” says Cynthia.

Cynthia’s story is one of perseverance, resiliency and hope. She is a true role model and a Hero to her daughters.

A few short weeks ago, #GivingTuesdayNOW, a worldwide campaign in response to the COVID-19 crisis slated for May 5^th, 2020, was announced. This global initiative was created to celebrate generosity and kindness during the pandemic. It is also a call to action to help agencies, like Yorktown to continue to provide support to women, children, youth and families in need.

On May 5^th, GivingTuesday, in honour of Mothers who strive to be heroes for their children, please make your donation to Yorktown. Your gift, will help ensure that mothers can keep their children safe and move on to new lives free from violence, fear and abuse.