Do Local Good

Hello everyone.

Thanks for joining today's episode.

Before we start, in today's episode,

we'll be talking
about Gender-Based violence

and the systems of support
that are available.

We will provide other resources
in this episode,

but want to remind you
that if you are anyone that you love,

need support during or after listening,
or any time,

you can always contact 211
for resources in your area.

So where do you turn for help

when the place you should feel safest
become the most dangerous?

Gender based violence affects individuals
and families across our community.

But it can be overwhelming
to reach out for help.

There are supports available,
and understanding what their process

looks like could help survivors
find and access the right support.

So welcome to
today's Do Local Good podcast,

created by United Way of the Alberta
Capital Region

and the team of volunteers
on the GenNEXT Cabinet.

We feature stories and people

from the Edmonton region
to inform, inspire and invite others

to join us in building resilient
and thriving communities.

We are your host, Baichi

and Yawa, we are here with Emma Potter

and CMHA Director of

Service Systems
Operating 211 and Ashley Baxter,

Director of Shelter Operations at WIN
House,

a women's shelter providing safe
refuge for those fleeing violence.

We have been talking about the work

they are doing to make finding support
easier.

Let's jump back in.

Emma and Ashley,
thank you very much for joining us.

Yeah, thank you both for being here.

And I think we just started
Baichi gave us an amazing introduction.

So domestic violence or gender based
violence is a very heavy topic.

So before we kind of get into it
for the audience, can you both

and your respective experiences
kind of paint the picture for what does

domestic or gender based violence
look like in the Alberta Capital Region?

So Edmonton, Calgary,
any of the spaces that you work in support

and who is most impacted?

And this is just kind of come
to give the audience

a picture of what it actually looks like,

because I feel like a lot of us
have preconceived notions of what domestic

violence is, who would actually impacts,
and whether or not it's our problem

or not.

So, a little bit of a loaded question,
but I think it's really important

to set up the tone in the landscape of
kind of like the rest of the episode.

So yeah, for sure.

So a lot of senior abuse,
and we see, immigrant, immigrant related,

newcomer related abuse that,
you know, sponsorship abuse and fear of,

you know, not allowing people to use
to learn the English language.

So keeping them very isolated. Yeah.

So it sounds like and just to clarify,
you mentioned there's domestic violence,

which is the umbrella.

And then within
that you can have intersectional violence

whether that's gender based,
which you identified as based on either

male female feel female, male, etc.,
and sounds like there's

a lot of different intersections.

I something I didn't even think about was,

you know, landlord and tenant
or even older children and seniors.

So thank you so much for for clarifying
that.

And, even some of the other intersections
of what happens in domestic

and gender based violence.

So can you maybe talk a little bit
more about housing instability or coercive

control, what that kind of looks like,
or cultural stigmas in terms of how to

escape a situation in terms of domestic
violence or gender based violence.

And you also talked a little bit
about the immigration and newcomer thing.

So based on your experience,

what can you let people know
about any of those intersections

that maybe, perhaps
they wouldn't know about otherwise?

So around housing instability, it
really comes down to our housing crisis.

Currently,
there is nowhere for people to go.

So to leave, a situation

which typically leaves you with nothing,
leaving everything behind.

Usually due to controls.

So, a lot of people think that gender
based violence or domestic violence

So, a lot of people think that gender
based violence or domestic violence

or intimate partner violence are all,

And in our shelter
we work with supporting people to,

to get into stable living situations.

However, it is so hard,
there is no housing and it is expensive

and,
there's yeah, the housing instability

and the housing crisis really creates
this pattern.

Where do I live?

In a communal shelter for a long term,
while we're waiting for a stable housing?

Or do I return to, what I can expect?

WIN House,
which was kind of my next question.

We'd love to understand better

what does navigating those supports,
look like step by step.

For example, if somebody is facing gender

based violence or just need some advice
in a difficult situation

where they want to leave,
want to look at their options,

how can they reach out for help?

And what does that look like, either

through WIN House or through,
you know, the supports through 211?

I can start off that one.

So I think the first piece is kind
of an awareness that something's not okay.

And so that's why we often tell people
that there are helplines

And letting the person who's experiencing
this in their life

share their story in the way
that they feel the most comfortable.

because that's something that gets
in the way in these relationships.

And so we want to be able to have
that conversation about what's going on,

what are the potential options,
and just show that there is choice

and that there are safe places
to reach out to, because we know

also that the barrier
for reaching out for help is, is high.

Yeah.

And we know the impact
of a bad experience

when somebody reaches out and discloses
something

so personal to them is super detrimental.

We want to make sure that they're
going to come back for support.

And so on 211 we're really looking at
where are you at right now

and what do you need right now
and what might you need in the future,

and how can we make sure

that you have the knowledge
about what is available to you.

And so often that is I'm ready to leave.

I want to get out of here.

I don't have a safe place to go.

And we're heading off into the WIN
House space or into the shelter space.

Thank you.

And as you were talking,
I just wanted to say something that helps

people also understand

the nuance of what it looks like
to navigate leaving a relationship.

Something you said is about awareness
and having them know their resources

or even, as you just said, people call
and they're like, I'm ready to leave.

Do you ever have people call in
who talk about their situation,

but aren't ready to leave,
or don't feel comfortable leaving?

Because I think people think
when we reach out, they're ready to go

as soon as they make that call,
which isn't always the case.

So either of you or maybe Emma
with the 211 calls you get in, can talk

a little bit more about those situations
where people call,

they know their situation isn't the
and they're not leaving.

Why would that be
or what's some of the reasons behind that?

It happens all the time.

It it happens all the time for folks
where it is a process.

Really that, that, that is what it is.

And same thing
with, we'll have the other end

of that spectrum
where women have left. Yeah.

And they're needing

to get connected into supports
because the pull to go back is strong.

Right.

Particularly now

with the way that things are with economic
pressures and housing pressures

and things like that, the draw to go back
is really, really strong.

And so we want to make sure that whenever

they're at that point,
wherever they are at that point,

they know that there are options
available to them.

And then we will
we will reach we will support them.

And getting them connected.

Yeah.

Makes sense.

It's almost like you know the devil
you know it's got to be with that.

Absolutely. No thank you.

Thank you so much. And I think

we just talked about what it's like
to get connected to this support.

So I'm going to hand it off back to Baichi
to kind of see, once

they're kind of in, they get connected
with Ashley at WIN House or Emma at 211.

What are the next steps
for navigating those relationships.

Yeah.

So I always, wonder what it feels like

to be an immigrant
and who has left their families behind

and then come to a new country,
and then they have to, you know,

leave this situation
and how hard it can be.

So I wonder what it,
when it comes to this kind of situation,

how WIN House and 211 helps support

those women or, you know, people?

Yeah.

So we do experience that quite a bit.

And the,

Canadians.

That's wonderful.

So I'm an immigrant myself,
and I can feel like how daunting

it can be to leave such situation
and, as you say, like you have,

translation support
so that would be very much comforting

for those women,

you know, who really need the support
and they will gonna feel like,

okay, I can leave right now
because I have the support already,

and it's wonderful that you guys do that.

So I wonder once

they have reached out to you,
how do you usually navigate

each of these different circumstances
that we just talked about.

Do you guys often
provide person-centered, support

or approach to those women
or those persons?

Yeah.

So WIN House’s values are person centered
forward thinking without exception.

So really that translates into every piece
of practice and work that we do.

We also operate from a trauma
informed low barrier

and harm reduction perspective.

So we really try to start where the women,
the person

the woman, is at and take it from there.

So what what do they need
and how can we be there for them?

It isn't about us
and it isn't about our goals.

It is 100%, woman lead and child lead.

What does this family need?

And how can we achieve this with you?

In 211 do they also have

the language and supports
and the technical support that they need?

So when you phone 211 unfortunately
not available on text and chat, but

Just leaning a little bit
to to what Ashley said.

We are always person-centered
and trauma informed.

We take a collaborative and empowerment
based approach to supporting anybody.

And so it really is having them identify
what it is

specifically,
that they think might be helpful for them.

And if they don't know what is even
in the realm of possibility of support,

we want to be able to give that education

to identify like
there is an option to go to a shelter.

There is an option to stay with
somebody else that you feel safe with.

There are outreach supports.

There are lots of different things
that can can come into play

for supporting people.

And sometimes it's just

that fear of the unknown,
and what might be possible and feasible.

And in particular for newcomers
who don't understand the Canadian system,

that is unfortunately quite siloed
in a lot of ways.

And the steps, Ashley, kind of already
alluded to the steps that you have

to go through in a legal sense,
in a social care sense, health

care, child care, all of those things
are all kind of siloed systems for people.

And if you're not familiar
with the Canadian system,

to begin with,
this is even a more daunting task.

So we want people to
know that there are supports

That's wonderful to have the support ready

for those women or people
that have to leave the situation.

So I wonder what kind of experience
they would expect when they call

211 or WIN House

and they need the support and what kind of

experience they will have.

For instance, I'm thinking in my head

will they also have the kind

of resources available to empower them
in future because, like, it's

not just the time or situation they are
in, but also in future they need to have,

you know, something to empower themselves
and feel independent.

100%. Yeah.

The goal, in WIN House is to support
because we are we are a point

in time service, the emergency shelter,
a point in time service.

It's a short lived stay.

Right now,
we're averaging about a 30 to 60 day stay.

and really creating those connections
so that, and if they need it,

you know, a long term support worker
really trying to connect to those services

so that they have something long term.

Thank you so much.

For clarifying that.

I wonder, like,
what are the current number of spaces

you have at WIN House?

With that, I have a question
in my head, like, do you feel like

you guys have enough beds for people
to stay for 30 days, as you said?

Yeah. So I think one of the things that

because we

have, because of the housing crisis
and the affordability

crisis we're currently experiencing,
people are staying in our shelter longer.

So we're having a bit of a bottleneck.

Our calls are increasing.

Exactly.

As you mentioned,
the cycle should be broken,

and that should be our main aim

to stop that and raise that as awareness.

I think that's what we are doing here.

However, I feel like, the coordination

and collaboration between different
local agencies could be helped.

So with that,
I will be handing over to Yawa.

Thank you so much for the insight
on exactly like how much

WIN House and 211 are so essential
in providing supports.

I think what you highlighted shows
like when we see the system,

we really mean this system.

For example, if a woman who's leaving an
abusive relationship doesn't have an ID,

doesn't have, you know,

finances, payslips, wasn't working,
and now they enter WIN House

and that's virtually impossible to find
housing because you mentioned YWCA,

so I am a therapist with the YWCA,
and I do see a lot of shelter clients,

come through our doors
or come through my caseload.

And then after they leave the shelter,
I stand with them to kind of help them

because they still need
that counseling support.

But for example, some things you mentioned
is that they can't get housing

because they don't have an ID
or they don't have their S.I.N.

Number, or they don't have pay stubs,
which is what all landlords ask for

because they haven't been working.
So now they're stuck.

So how can you turn that around in 30 days
in a shelter

to be able to get them into stable
housing?

You can't you can't do that.

So it just goes to show
the layers to the system is so intense.

And a lot of people don't realize that.

And I think the siloed nature
of the system also makes it difficult.

So it's so essential for more integrated.

That's why I love the fact that it's a one

stop shop, that you can come in
and you can get those supports like an ID,

you can get counseling, you can get,
you know, employment training, etc., etc.

but that all comes through collaboration,
I'm sure.

So with that being said, how is United Way
and 211 working with local agencies

like WIN House to improve the process
or to prove that collaboration?

I know something cool that's coming up in
May is a task force.

So, I don't know if anyone wants to talk

about that pilot
or how it's going to essentially help

that collaboration
kind of grow stronger. Yeah.

You got it.

Yeah, absolutely.

So I think we we want to make the journey
simpler for women.

And we know that right now in Edmonton,
it isn't simple.

And that resources are stretched,
and that oftentimes

women have to retell their story and over
and over and over again to get support.

And so one of the things

that we're working on, with WIN House
and with the other, Edmonton and area

shelters and 211 is to do a little bit
of centralized intake,

so that no more do
women have to phone WIN House and

if they don't have space phone Laurana
you don't have space, phone A Safe Place.

But they can phone once.

And we will have access
to bed availability

information
and will be able to navigate them

in a seamless way to the available beds
that meet their needs.

And if,

unfortunately, there are not available
beds,

look at alternative options that have
a connection into an outreach support.

So it's about us
coordinating ourselves a little bit more,

so that there's fewer steps
along that continuum of getting in

to receiving support
as if they're experiencing,

domestic violence
or gender based violence.

So we're really excited, to be trialing
that.

It's a pilot project.

So, we're hoping that we'll learn
some really valuable things

and see some positive outcomes for people
and women experiencing domestic violence.

Really hoping to make, safety
a phone call away.

Yeah. Literally seven. Yes. Yeah.

Yes and no.

That makes sense because

So that's
that's really cool to see coming up.

And kind of overall, we've spoken
a lot about intervention

and how we can all do our part
in making sure that we're helping people

after they've gotten to these situations
and helping them get out.

But the bigger question,
which we've been asking ourselves

probably as a society for the last

however many years, is
what can we do to prevent violence?

What supports, what more supports do
you think are needed, to be able

to prevent a lot of the clients that
you see, the people that you help from

entering the situations

in the first place.

And, honestly,
I don't know if there is a right answer.

Maybe there's not right
now, but happy to hear from either of you

what your experience
or what your insights are on this.

I think that,
there isn't really a great answer here.

Kids are so impressionable
and there's so much that they have

to go through at such a young age,
no matter what their circumstances are.

And so being,
really intentional with kids, I think is

super is super important.

You know, and that's really
kind of the bigger picture

thinking because for both sides,
someone that has seen,

you know, a little boy grown up
seeing a male figure enact violence

or, you know, a little girl
seen violence enacted upon.

They might think that's the way
this is the normal thing to do.

So even though it doesn't feel good
or it's not right.

This is what I know when we talked about

The devil you know is kind of a what
a lot of us stick with some things.

And, and,
I think that's something as well.

Yeah.

I mean, I think it's,

it's really about kind of breaking down
some of those gender stereotypes

as well for people.

So we know that this is not okay.

And that awareness,
that it's not okay for that control over.

That everybody kind of has that,
innate human right to self-determination

and to be able to make their own decisions
and choices in their life.

And so those are big pieces.

Yeah.

This isn't just a behind closed doors
issue.

This is an everybody
and everybody issue. Yeah.

And even in terms of everybody,

so it sounds like you don't have to be
the Director of 211

or WIN House to be able to prevent
or do your part.

So what can listeners right now
who are listening to podcast,

what are some practical ways
that they can support the work

to end gender based violence?

I think engaging in conversations and,

understanding what gender based
violence is and knowing what to look for.

And if you know, there isn't shame,

if somebody is in a, in a abusive

relationship not judging, like,
why don't you just leave?

It's about supporting them and and hearing

what they have to say
and just really reducing shame.

And then supporting organizations
that are doing the work to create

the education and support the humans
that are experiencing the violence.

So no matter how big or small,
everyone can have a part essentially.

Awesome.

So as you just said like

it literally resonated in my head
that like it can happen with anyone.

And when it comes
to this kind of situation or violence

happening, a lot of the times
people just keep it

into their themselves
and they just don't want to speak up.

So what should someone do when they listen

to someone experiencing that?

But they just don't want to speak up
or your loved one, you know, that,

violence is happening, but they just
don't want to share with someone.

So in those kind of situations,
what should someone do?

I think, you know, again,
it's not about being below it but,

having creating shame and listening

and being a support and and understanding.

But then there's also the help lines: so
we have 211, we have WIN House’s helpline.

And we're here to help and to listen

and to give education
in a trauma-informed, client-centered way.

Just making
that phone call is extremely scary.

And, however,

when you make the phone call,
there isn't pressure to leave.

We we're going to support you
in all facets.

Whatever that looks like for you.

However that looks like for you,
if it's just to listen

because you need to get it off your chest,
we are there to do that.

I think it's important, too, that people

if you're concerned about people
in your life that you know that

isolation is such a huge component
of violence and abuse.

And so we want to do the things
to break down that isolation,

as is the taking away control.

And so if you, you know,
someone who may be experiencing this

or you're kind of seeing some signs, it's
taking those steps to try to move

past that isolation so that they know
that you are a safe support,

but also remembering
that they need to have control and choice.

And so awareness of what options
are available for whomever

you're concerned about is great.

And anybody is welcome to call 211
at any point in time

and ask about resources for themselves
or for somebody else

so you can know the options
and be able to provide

non-judgment and a safe place,
but also information about options.

Exactly.

Knowing the options and the supports
that are there,

it just not help
someone experiencing that,

but also their loved
one that okay, my loved one

has experiencing these things
and now I can be of higher help.

And that is really, really helpful

for everyone to know that support is there
you need to call or, you know, listen

or just know what are there available.

So I am sure that you both have,

you know,
lots of good stories and lots of,

really nice stories that demonstrates
what makes a difference.

So, in your words, I,
we really want to hear about the stories,

that you have had.

I can think of one
that comes to the top of my head:

we had a client,
a resident staying at WIN House

who, was in a pretty,
terrible circumstance

and had left with her,
kiddos into our shelter.

So we had a space. We had,

a mom and two kids.

And in her journey with us, we were a
she was able to achieve

her, housing goals and her,

she got ID, she got enrolled in school,

and she was accepted
into, a second stage housing.

And so,
she gets to continue on her journey and,

Yeah, her journey with a life
free from violence and,

she is

so happy and has sent us an email
since leaving saying that

she is beyond grateful for the support
that she received at WIN House

because it made it possible for her

to live a life free from violence.

Witnessing this situation
like you must feel very proud of yourself

the work that you guys do and, you know,
helping the women that needs the most.

I am sure that's wonderful.

So, what are the words

of encouragement
or advice would you offer?

To women? Yes.

Of course. To

remind all women we are strong.

We can tackle anything.

You have the power inside of you.

To be

an autonomous, self-determined human.

You can.

You can be stable and independent.

Thank you.

That gives power to everyone
listening to this podcast.

Similar to me.

Like, I'm also feeling like,
so great, to hear those words.

Do you want to add anything?

I mean, I think it's just that
you're not alone,

that there are supports out
there and change is possible,

and that there are people who are able
to give you that helping hand,

and so that you can take those steps
for yourself and for your family.

To move towards a better future.

Which is awesome.

But really, it's you are not alone.

There are many of us out there
who want to support and to help,

and there are also women who have gone
through this and come out the other side,

that can act as an inspiration,
and a support

for people who are going through it now.

That's really inspirational.

With that, I will, hand it over to Yawa.

Thank you both for those that
that advice and words of encouragement.

I think it's really impactful
because you're not just

saying it to say it,
but you've actually seen these things.

You know,
you believe them because you've seen

women
come in one way and leave out another way.

And that's really empowering.

And I know in my experience, seen
and that's one of the things

because people probably wondering,
you know, what keeps you in this job?

It keeps you, you know,
you probably hearing

devastating stories
every single day, but you still go in

and you still do your best
to kind of improve the lives of women.

And I think people don't realize
how impactful it is to see, for example,

a woman come in without any of those,
you know, capital and resources

and now have housing.

And now be happy and have them say
that I never thought I would be here

is something that, you know, keeps
you going every single day.

And that's something that really
I appreciate

both the work of WIN House and 211 really
cannot be overemphasized enough.

So we really appreciate that.

And your exit ticket today,
if you want to leave the podcast,

specifically the Do
Local Good podcast is letting us know

for both of you, asking about
what does doing local good mean to you?

To me, it's about smiling at everyone
in the community.

Which includes the humans
that are houseless in our community.

And we are all community members
and giving a good smile

and letting people know
it's about isolation and loneliness.

That you are seen.

And just like, yeah,
that smile, that helping hand, that

understanding
and non-judgment is so, so important.

With everything
that's going on in the world.

Amazing.

Well I can see you're doing local good.

Very well. And

and the three pillars for United Way
that really are the essence behind why

we do what we do are strengthening mental
well-being, eliminating barriers to

educational resources
and increasing financial literacy.

So out of those three pillars, for
both of you, which one resonates the most

for me?

Coming from Canadian
Mental Health Association, you know.

Yes, absolutely.

Mental well-being is is so important.

We know that stress is impacting us
all in many different ways

and that can be barriers
for us getting help.

And so having a community
that is supportive of mental

well-being across the board and people
who understand their own mental wellness

and their own mental health
and the steps that they can take

and the resources at their
disposal is so, so important.

Coming from an economic

stability perspective for me,
because women,

the,

empowerment for women is to be financial
state financially stable.

And so ensuring financial literacy
is definitely important.

Awesome. Well thank you both so much.

I sure myself and Baichi could be here
for the next three four hours.

But that's our time for today
and that's the show.

Thank you
both so much for sharing your knowledge

and for all that you do to help build
resilient, connected

and thriving communities here in Edmonton
and the Alberta Capital Region.

And to everyone listening
and doing local good starts with you.

So to find out how you can help, head
to myunitedway.ca/GenNEXT

or you can check out the links
in the show notes.

And together we can all make sure
that no one is left behind.

And if you enjoyed today's episode,
which I don't know how you couldn't,

feel free to like, share and subscribe
and we will see you in the next episode.