Pandemic introduces support obstacles for those facing domestic violence

TAYLOR PIPE

The government of Ontario’s website describes domestic violence as “a pattern of behaviour used by one person to gain power and control over another person with whom they have or previously had an intimate relationship.”

Most people think of domestic violence as a romantic partner physically harming the other person. However, domestic violence isn’t just physical, it’s emotional too.

In addition to physical violence, domestic violence also includes emotional, sexual, financial, and psychological abuse. It’s stalking, verbal abuse, and using electronic devices to harass and control.

According to the same website, 80 per cent of survivors tell family and friends about their situation but only 30 per cent actually report the situation to police.

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis (WIC) offers programs that help women and families facing crises access emergency shelter, transitional housing supports, family court services, and support in rural communities surrounding Guelph. In addition to these programs, they also run a sexual assault clinic, a crisis line, and an anti-human trafficking program.

Sly Castaldi, executive director of WIC said the pandemic has affected the organization, but also the women and children in need of help.

“For women and children who had to self-isolate in their homes during the height of the pandemic, obviously that makes it challenging for anyone experiencing violence or abuse,” Castaldi said.

“It made it harder to get out and it made it harder to get support because people were trapped in their houses together. It made it a more difficult situation.”

Counselling services moved to an online format, and the Marianne’s Place shelter continued to operate with increased safety measures put in place.

“Because most of the rooms in our shelter are double occupancy, and because of the public health measures for congregate living, our rooms were reduced to half,” Castaldi said. “So our space became even more limited. We’re a 30 bed shelter and all of the sudden we’re down to 15 beds so that’s a huge change.”

Castaldi said that having people working from home also makes it harder for victims to reach out.

“If someone goes to work every day, you’re able to use the phone or book an appointment with your counsellor, but if people are in the house all the time that becomes more of a challenge,” she said.

Castaldi said that the organization has learned from the first wave of the pandemic and is prepared to face challenges that may come their way due to a second wave.

“I think the fact that we’ve figured out how to deliver services remotely and we can do that if we have to move to that model again — it’s already figured out,” said Castaldi. “In terms of the shelter, I think we now know how to function in a pandemic mode.”

Joanne Young Evans, executive director of Family Support Services (FSS) for Guelph-Wellington, explained that FSS has a specific program in place for women who are experiencing domestic violence.

According to their website, the program has two phases: Phase 1 offers psychoeducation, support, and tools for safety and emotional regulation. Phase 2 is focused on recovery through integration of meaning.

FSS also focuses on offering support and counselling services to the abuser in conjunction with support and counselling for the victims.

Evans said that connecting with youth as early as possible is one way to be proactive when dealing with domestic violence.

“It’s documented that most men who abuse have gone through some sort of trauma when they were younger and this is how it ends up playing out in adulthood,” Evans said. “That’s why we need to get these men the help to break this cycle as adults.”

However, domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of gender.

“Gender-based violence doesn’t just mean men and women or people who identify as women,” said Evans. “It means everybody and we work with the entire population to get them into the right programs and get them the support and help that they require.”

At the start of the pandemic, FFS’s counselling services moved online. It wasn’t until July that they were able to offer in-person services again.

“The problem with doing things virtually is that if you have an issue in the home, you can’t do virtual counselling,” Evans said. “We knew we needed to open up as quickly as possible to get people back to face-to-face counselling.”

Since reopening, their group counselling sessions have changed. The participants may gather together, given that they abide by physical distance guidelines, but they also have the option to tune-in virtually if that makes them more comfortable.

Castaldi said WIC has also found creative ways to still get people the support they need during a pandemic.

“We had to find ways of helping women get to places or do things that normally would be way easier. But during a pandemic – that makes everything way more complicated,” Castaldi said.

However, Castaldi said she was thankful for the community rallying together and helping organizations that assist people in vulnerable populations.

“That part has been incredibly heartwarming,” she said.

“We are an amazing community in Guelph and we’ve always been known to be kind and compassionate, and this pandemic was no different in terms of us rising to that occasion and proving who we are as a community.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence you can reach out at: https:// gwwomenincrisis.org/ or