Quebec urged to boost funding for women’s second-stage shelters

Quebec Advocates Call for Increased Funding for Second-Stage Shelters

Advocates and researchers are urging Quebec to boost funding for second-stage shelters for women escaping violence. These transitional homes are vital for preventing homelessness and protecting women and children.

A new study by the Quebec Homelessness Prevention Collaborative (QHPC) shows the effectiveness of second-stage shelters. These shelters offer longer stays, specialized services, and secure, confidential environments for women after leaving emergency shelters.

Importance of Second-Stage Shelters

Pearl Eliadis, an associate professor at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy and co-author of the QHPC study, emphasizes the importance of second-stage shelters. She states, “We’re only now starting to understand the importance of providing transitional housing after emergency shelters to make sure that women do not fall back into homelessness, that they’re less likely to be exposed to violence.”

Eliadis explains that these shelters help the entire system function better. They provide transitional housing to ensure women can access permanent housing and are less likely to return to abusive partners.

Study Findings

The study found that 69 to 90 percent of women in second-stage shelters accessed stable housing. In comparison, only 43 to 64 percent of women after first-stage shelters achieved the same. Women in second-stage shelters were also less likely to return to an abusive partner, with rates of four to five percent versus 11 to 36 percent.

Challenges Due to Limited Resources

Eliadis warns about the impact of limited second-stage resources. She states, “When there aren’t enough resources available for second stage, what happens is that there’s a bottling up of people in the first stage shelters that are not properly resourced for long-term stays.”

She advocates for longer stays in second-stage shelters, suggesting they should increase from the current average of eight months to one to two years. This would allow women to access services, find permanent housing, and ensure their children’s stability.

Efforts to Establish Second-Stage Shelters

Melpa Kamateros, executive director of Shield of Athena Family Services, shared her organization’s 15-year effort to open its first second-stage shelter. She explained that the process involved five years to gain governmental understanding, another five years to secure funding, and five years to build the shelter.

Kamateros stressed the importance of transitional housing for women after leaving emergency shelters. She noted, “For women fleeing violence, the single most important thing for them is to go somewhere where they are secure.”

Limitations of Emergency Shelters

Kamateros explained that stays at emergency shelters are usually limited to one to two months. However, women often stay longer due to a lack of options after their stay ends. This creates challenges for social workers who must find follow-up options for women and children.

Need for Transitional Homes

Kamateros emphasized that second-stage transitional homes are essential for women fleeing violence. These shelters provide time and resources to rebuild their lives. She stated, “What women who are fleeing violence need more… is access to specific shelters, transition homes where they can transition for a longer period of time.”

She highlighted that women remain at risk even after leaving an abusive situation, with potential violence lasting up to a year after leaving.

Consequences of Limited Resources

Kamateros noted that without access to second-stage resources, many women may return to abusive relationships. The QHPC study found Quebec is 33 percent short of its 2021 commitments to second-stage shelters.

Call for Reform

Eliadis stated that support for transitional housing is critical for women’s lives and security. She also pointed out a legal gap in access to second-stage shelters for non-citizens. She warned that policies could change, limiting access for immigrant and refugee women.

Eliadis called for reforms to ensure a legal framework supports adequate housing rights in Quebec.

Urgent Measures Needed

Both Eliadis and Kamateros called for urgent measures, including increased funding, faster construction of second-stage shelters, longer stays, and legal access for non-permanent residents. Kamateros added a message for women in abusive situations: “They should not worry. They should call. They can access services and a better life is there for themselves and their children.”