In 2009, the administration of the Women’s Transition Housing and Supports Program (WTHSP) was transferred from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development to the British Columbia Housing Management Commission (BC Housing). The WTHSP includes transition houses, safe homes and second stage housing for women with or without children who have experienced violence and/or are at risk of violence. Safe homes are typically located in small, remote communities and provide shorter-stay support and crisis intervention, where transition houses do not usually exist.
The safe home may be an apartment or townhouse unit, private residential home, or hotel/motel room. There are 26 safe home programs in BC, which are funded through BC Housing. Approximately 375 women and children stayed in safe homes throughout BC in 2009/10. 2009/10 funding to safe homes was $1.2 Million. This report summarizes the findings of a study of the current state of services in the Women’s Safe Home Program. The study was initiated by BC Housing’s Women’s Transition Housing and Supports Program and conducted by BC Housing’s Research and Corporate Planning Department.
The purpose of this study is to get a better understanding of the safe home programs and how they each operate. The study does not provide an analysis of the services needed or current best practices. This study involved in-depth qualitative interviews with all 26 safe home programs coordinators by telephone. Interviewees were asked 35 open-ended and coded questions on the following topics:
- General successes/challenges/lessons learned
- Services and outreach activities offered to women through each program
- Program related questions
- Descriptions of safe home facilities
- After-hours coverage and services provided
- Staffing structures
- Partnerships