Refuge forced to turn away abused women

A WOMEN’S refuge in Dublin is turning away 80 per cent of domestic violence victims because of a chronic lack of space.

The Sonas Housing Association last week revealed the shocking statistics which indicated that four out of every five women have to be turned away from its crisis domestic violence service because it’s massively oversubscribed.

The situation was highlighted during the launch of the service’s annual report for 2011, which the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, attended.

According to the housing association, its Viva House refuge, which opened in June 2010 and contains eight family apartments, received almost 600 enquiries from women living in abusive situations.

However, because the refuge was already full it could only accommodate 130 women and 240 children.

The same trend was seen in Sonas’s longer-term housing projects.

According to Sonas Housing Association chairperson, Anne McKeon, the demand for Sonas accommodation almost doubled compared to 2010 and has risen incrementally over the past five years.

But due to lack of space the demand is in no way being met by the over-stretched services available for victims of domestic abuse.

“Not having space available is a serious risk to the lives of many women and children,

? said Ms McKeon.

“There is a real need for more domestic violence spaces in the community to alleviate this risk.

?

Sonas’s report for 2011 found that December and June were the quietest times in terms of demand. But there were massive spikes in February and July, which were the busiest months of the year.

“The trends in demand are often family related,

? explained Ms McKeon.

“In December, mothers are aware that children want to spend Christmas in their homes. In June many children finish their school year or take formal exams so mothers often wait until these are completed before making a move out of an abusive situation.

“In our experience women try to hold a situation together for the sake of their family.

“For the women and children who can gain access to our services, we are able to support them and help them move safely away from abuse and on to independent living.

?

Approximately 70 per cent of the women who use the Sonas services have children.

In launching the report Minister Jan O’Sullivan said she welcomed how the reality of domestic abuse was being publicised and highlighted.

“The notion that a home is not safe seems like an extreme contradiction to most of us fortunate enough not to have to face the issue of domestic violence and abuse in our daily lives,

? she stated.

“It is for this very reason that we welcome the fact that domestic violence is no longer seen as a private issue – it is our responsibility to protect this vulnerable sector of our society.

“The Sonas report clearly demonstrates the difference it is making in people’s lives.

?

A new Homeless Policy Statement is due to be published by the Government shortly and one of its main goals is to assist homeless persons, including those made homeless as a result of domestic violence, to live independently as soon as possible.

Minister O’Sullivan believes that this, together with appropriate outreach and resettlement support, would be essential to stamp out homelessness.

“I am determined to work in partnership with organisations such as Sonas to provide appropriate and secure options for individuals and families escaping domestic violence and rebuilding their lives,

? she said.