Transition Home Survey

Newfoundland

The 1999-2000 Transition Home Survey is conducted on a biennial basis as part of the federal government’s Family Violence Initiative. The questionnaire was sent to 508 shelters in Canada known to be providing residential services for women victims of abuse and their children. Responses were received from 467 shelters (92%).

The questionnaire was sent to 13 facilities in Newfoundland and responses were received from 92% of the shelters.

• There were 1,246 admissions of women and dependent children reported from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.¹

A Profile of residents, April 17, 2000

• In a snapshot taken on April 17, 2000, there were 80 residents in shelters in Newfoundland: 54% were women and 46% were dependent children.

• 84% (36) of women residing in shelters on April 17, 2000 were victims of abuse and the remainder was admitted for reasons other than abuse, such as housing problems. Of those admitted for abuse,² 72% were fleeing psychological abuse, 67% physical abuse, 58% threats, 36% sexual abuse, 36% harassment, and 11% financial abuse.

• 25% of women admitted for abuse indicated that they were also protecting their children from witnessing abuse of their mother, 22% from psychological abuse, 11% from physical abuse, and 8% from threats.

• 50% of women escaping abusive situations were admitted with their children; 71% (25) of these children were under 10 years of age.

• 56% of abused women indicated that their spouse or partner was the abuser, 22% of women were abused by a relative, 8% by a current or ex-boyfriend, for 8% of the cases, the relationship was unknown and 6% were abused by others.

• 33% of abused women had reported police intervention for the most recent violent incident to police and, in 33% of these reported cases, charges were laid against the abuser.

• On April 17, 2000, 12 shelters reported that they had received 128 requests for various services (housing, non-housing and other) from non-residents and ex-residents.

A Profile of Shelters, 1999-2000

• The majority of shelters offered the following in-house services to women residents: advocacy (100%), housing referral (92%), and individual short-term counselling (92%).

• Facilities also provided in-house services to women who are non-residents in need of assistance. These services included advocacy (83%), and crisis telephone line (75%). In-house services available to women ex-residents included advocacy (83%), and crisis telephone line (75%).

• In-house services offered to resident children included indoor recreational spaces (58%), and outdoor recreational spaces (50%).

• A majority (58%) of reporting facilities are completely or partially wheelchair accessible.

• Facilities reported providing an average of 31 outreach³ hours per week.

For further information, please contact the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics at (613) 951-9023, toll-free at 1 800 387-2231 or e-mail: ccjsccsj@statcan.gc.ca.