Violence Against Women Services: 2021/22

Yorktown’s Shelter for women provides a safe haven for women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. In most cases, women living in abusive relationships are faced with the choice of living with abuse or living in poverty, if they leave. Our goal is to provide women facing this decision a transitional home and the support they require to become equipped to move on to successfully begin new lives, free from abuse.

Staffed 24 hours a day by a multilingual and multicultural team, Yorktown’s shelter is committed to the safety, well-being, and empowerment of women who have suffered abuse, and to the healthy development of their children. Beyond a safe and secure transitional refuge, the shelter provides counselling, advocacy, connection to resources, skills-building workshops, intervention/violence prevention programs, and community outreach.

Yorktown Family Services VAW mandate is the safety, well-being, and empowerment of women who have suffered abuse, and to the healthy development of their children. VAW programs and services include the shelter and shelter services as well as community outreach and support.

In many ways, 2021/22 picked up right where 2020/21 left off. Masks were required, social distancing was mandated, and the “stay at home” directive was in place.

As the new fiscal year got underway, it was clear that we would be contending with not only continued impacts of the pandemic but also the corresponding safety protocols, for the foreseeable future. The shelter was well stocked-up on masks, face shields, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. Social distancing measures, and restriction of the number of people that could be in common areas and the kitchen at one time remained in place. Keeping on top of the physical aspect of the safety measures required constant vigilance.

As a safety measure, the shelter continued to operate with a two-week on-site/two-week off-site schedule for shelter staff. “We scheduled two cohorts of workers to minimize staff crossing paths; the two groups only cross paths with the team members in their cohort,” says Fatima Valentim, Director of Violence Against Women Services.

The pandemic necessitated the reimagining of new ways to interact with clients by our outreach team and text-based or counselling by phone were utilized.

The theme that describes 2021/22 is “Reimagining”—a commitment to hope entwined with tenacious resilience. What emerged as an opportunity amongst the challenges faced over the course of the year were funding streams that are not typically available. Grants supported much needed safety equipment, including air filtration units as well as renovations that would enhance safety. Funds were secured to replace furniture and finance upgrades to technology.

Just as they had done when the pandemic hit in 2020/21, despite the struggles, disruptions, and health risks, Yorktown’s Violence Against Women (VAW) Team continued to show up to work, present, dedicated and mindful of the residents and clients; reimagining the future with hope and tenacious resilience.

To learn more about our Violence Against Women shelter and services, please visit our webpage here.