Newsworthy

August 2010
Insisting on Action

Interval House is insisting on action to change the way women escaping violence access housing. Right now, if you are a woman being beaten in your home, you can flee to a shelter like Interval House to rebuild your life. When you leave the shelter, you usually end up in subsidized housing. We believe the best way to help women leave violence behind forever is to help them to afford an apartment where they feel safe, in a neighbourhood that they choose.

Interval House is urging the Province to consider adopting a portable housing subsidy as part of our B.E.S.S. program, so women can decide to where to live whether its near their work, their kids’ schools, far away from their abuser or close to vital community resources. Our B.E.S.S. program exists to ensure that women get back up on their feet financially, and a big part of that solution is affordable housing.

We are calling on Queen’s Park to fund a two-year pilot project to help 50 families for 2 years.

Our proposal frees up space in women’s shelters so that more abused women can get into the shelter to the help they need. When one woman can’t move out because she can’t find affordable housing, other women can’t move in. And when women end up in a homeless shelter they don’t access the services and support they need. We believe that our proposal compliments existing affordable housing options and is a logical, practical and valuable way to support families on their journey to freedom.

Our initiative – focused on action and results – was covered recently in the Toronto Star. You can read the full article here.

July 2010
Summer at Interval House

Summer is an active time at Interval House. As expected, we’re seeing an increase in calls and families coming to the shelter – the beginning of summer is an explosive time in an abusive home.

Interval House responds with expanded programs for children. Our counselling programs for kids are split by age. With our younger kids, we focus on cooperation, waiting for your turn, using please and thank you. We have expanded art programs for our younger kids through the summer, a creative and safe place for kids to express their feelings.

Our older kids take longer to build trust, and we are confronting more complex issues including

• disrespectful behaviours toward their mom
• bullying
• aggression

Most have never seen a positive interaction between men and women, and we ensure that through our counselling sessions co-facilitated by male and female counsellors, they see how we voice opinions, listen to each other and come to an agreement.

We also have more family outings to free or inexpensive events in the city, helping families explore the community. Many abused women are isolated at home, so things like navigating public transit are new for the whole family.

And we always look forward to our summer outing for current and past residents. This year we are taking a day trip outside the city for our Summer Picnic!

June 2010
Interval House Champion Awards

On June 1, 2010, Interval House Champion Awards were given to Vince Brescia, President of the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario and Bonnie Hoy, of Bonnie Hoy Associates. Both are tremendous supporters of our Community Programs.

Vince has been instrumental in giving us a voice in the housing sector, allowing us to advocate for more rights for women. Interval House is an active advocate for our clients’ housing needs. Vince has provided us with valuable insights into the rental-housing industry, and has connected us to industry professionals who can help us achieve our goals. Vince and Bonnie helped get some of our clients’ jobs as superintendents, paying for their training and offering them housing as part of their employment.

Thank you, Vince and Bonnie, for being Interval House Champions!

June 2010
GE Canada rolls up their sleeves for Interval House!

Thanks to the volunteers who came to our home to cook dinner for our residents, as well as clearing out the storage rooms on our third floor in preparation for our renovation. Thank you!

March 2010
Scotiabank: A Fresh Approach to Supporting Interval House!

Interval House extends a heart-felt thank you to the staff at Scotiabank for coordinating a collection of new toiletries to give the women living at Interval House.

Women and children who escape domestic violence come to our centre with nothing but the clothes on their backs and haunting stories of the abuse they endured. Thanks to Scotiabank, we are able to supply each woman with a Welcome Kit that includes a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, face and body creams, razors and more.

Thank you, Scotiabank, for your thoughtful gesture in honour of International Women's Day. Your poster for the toiletries drive said "A bar of soap can be the first step to a new life". The women and children in our home today couldn't agree with you more.

After all, it's the little things that make our house a home.

Lesley Ackrill and Dayl Marks, Scotiabank

Lyanne Clarke, Tracey Harding and Lesley Ackrill, Interval House staff members

Lesley Ackrill speaks to a gathering of Scotiabank female employees

"Welcome Kit" given to new residents of Interval House, made with the toiletries generously donated by Scotiabank employees

Newsworthy Update: January 2010

Our friends at Bentall LP brightened the holiday season for women and children living at Interval House by delivering a cheque for $10,000 in support of Interval House. Just a few days before Christmas, it was indeed a gift of comfort and joy to families living in our centre. Thank you!

December 4, 2009
Youth group spreads holiday cheer

On November 21st Interval House was happy to welcome members of the Highland Youth Group who helped clean and decorate the shelter for the holidays!

November 4, 2009
New report on domestic violence in Canada

Statistics Canada has just released their annual "Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile" report. This is the twelfth annual Family Violence in Canada report produced by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics under the Federal Family Violence Initiative. This annual report provides the most current data on the nature and extent of family violence in Canada, as well as trends over time, as part of the ongoing initiative to inform policy makers and the public about family violence issues. This year, the focus of the report is a profile of shelters that provide residential services to women and children fleeing abusive situations.

Click here to download

October 20, 2009
Looking for a new way to support your favourite charity?

Check out the Yellow Bird Project. YBP is a Montreal-based, non-profit initiative. YBP collaborates with musicians to design a T-shirt, prints and sell them on www.yellowbirdproject.com. All of the money raised goes to charity. Which charity? Each of the artists gets to choose their own, and Bon Iver has chosen Interval House! To date, Yellow Bird Project and Bon Iver have raised $8,000 to support the women and children at Interval House!

Click here and get the T.

October 15, 2009
Interval House Annual Open House

On Thursday October 15th friends and supporters gathered to learn, celebrate and share with Interval House.

For more articles featuring Interval House, check out our news archive.