Located in Toronto, Interval House provides many support services to women and children fleeing abusive situations. We spoke with Lesley Ackrill to learn more about the shelter and services.
What programs and services do you provide and what is your role within the community?
We offer women who are fleeing abusive sitations a place of safety and security, as well as the programs they need to get back on their feet.
We run a shelter, for women and the children living with them who need immediate housing support, and offer daycare. We have different playgroups for different ages and offer excursions for the kids. These excursions are led by a woman and a man so the kids can see positive role modelling of male-female interaction and decision making. The excursions are also important because, in addition to giving mom a break, they help kids built trust with other adults.
We consider ourselves a one-stop, wholistic all-encompassing organization that provides everything a woman needs to get back on her feet. In addition to a shelter and the programs for daycare, we also connect women with legal support - whether for custody or immigration issues, and help women who do not speak english connect with an interpreter. We have programs for building economic self-sufficiency so that when they move on from the shelter they can move into a position of economic independence. We try to help them look at a career path - rather than just for a job. The women in this program (and this program is open to all women who are fleeing abuse, not just the women from our shelter) engage in a two week skills invetory, resume writing and interviewing skills workshop and they meet with a job developer who can help find them employment in their field. The job developer also acts as a mentor. A lot of these women lack self-esteem and confidence so the job developer is there to remind them of their importance and value in the job market, and to encourage them to keep at it.
One woman was an accountant when she came to us but dreamed of running her own catering business. So we helped her to retrain and now she is a successful caterer with her own business. Another woman got a job at a bank and she is now our representative for employee RRSPs! These women just need a push and a hand-up.
We also have art programs for children who can`t express themselves well verbally, and of course counselling.
How do you help women with babies?
We have many babies born while mom is in the shelter. Pregnancy is actually a time when women may face the most abuse from her partner. Perhaps because during this time, the woman starts to look inward and to take care of herself. She may not pay as much attention to the abuser and this angers him.
We have Moms Groups through the Public Health department and a group that meets with experts in child development to learn ways to interact and play with their baby. We see our role as reinforcing the family bond.
From what sources do you receive funding and how important is the support of individuals?
Support from individuals is very important. 60% of our funding comes from private donations and 40% from the Government. We are the oldest shelter in Canada, we began as a drop-in centre in 1973 and became a shelter. At that time a lot of women came forward who had witnessed their moms go through abuse and were glad there was now a place of support. Many of them have made us part of their family giving and even included us in their will. In the beginning it was a couple of families that came together to gather the support, donating money themselves and having the beds donated.
How can people get involved in your organization?
By donating money, volunteering their time and acting as advocates: helping us to spread the word that violence against women should not be tolerated. It is not over. People think it is over because we have shelters and legislation but it is far from over.
People call alot to donate clothing and baby items, like cribs and car seats. Often space is an issue for us and for things like cribs and car seats we have to say no because of liability. We just don`t know where the items are coming from or their history.
We also have programs to sponsor a family at Christmas time.
Why is it important to give back when and how you can?
I think in general Canadian society is built on the principle of giving back. We are very blessed and fortunate as a country and feel it is important to give back. I think it is no accident that we have a lower crime rate and better quality of living than many other countries. I think we are in general a more giving society. And studies show that when you are connected to your community, you live longer. We will be a much better society if we give back.
What role should charity play in our lives as parents?
I think it is important to raise your children to be aware of other people and to be emphathetic. This builds a better citizen. At first, we want them to be responsible for themselves: pick up after themselves, be polite, do their homework. And as they get older we want them to help in their immediate community - help Mom, open a door. And then we want them to be aware of their larger community. At each stage, there is the opportunity for you to teach them.
Click here for more information on Interval House.
