Transition Home Survey

Nova Scotia

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 19 facilities in Nova Scotia and responses were received from 89% of the shelters.

• There were 8,436 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 178 residents in shelters in Nova Scotia: 47% were women and 53% were dependent children.

• 85% (71) of women residing in shelters on April 17, 2000 were victims of abuse and the remainder were admitted for reasons other than abuse, such as housing problems. Of those admitted for abuse,² 83% were fleeing psychological abuse, 69% physical abuse, 51% financial abuse and 44% threats.

• 45% of women admitted for abuse indicated that they were also protecting their children from witnessing abuse of their mother, 42% from psychological abuse, 17% from physical abuse, 17% from threats.

• 58% of women escaping abusive situations were admitted with their children; 55% (51) of these children were under 10 years of age.

• 66% of abused women indicated that their spouse or partner was the abuser, 24% of women were abused by a former spouse or partner, and 10% were abused by others (e.g., boyfriend or ex-boyfriend, relative, friend, acquaintance, or relationship was unknown).

• 30% of abused women had reported police intervention for the most recent violent incident to police and, in 71% of these reported cases, charges were laid against the abuser.

• On April 17, 2000, 17 shelters reported that they had received 170 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 (88%), individual short-term counselling (88%), group counselling (82%) and parenting skills (82%)

• Facilities also provided in-house services to women who are non-residents in need of assistance. These services include advocacy (71%), individual short-term counselling (65%), group counselling (65%), and crisis telephone line (65%). In-house services available to women ex-residents included individual short-term counselling (82%), and advocacy (76%).

• In-house services offered to resident children included outdoor recreational spaces (76%), individual counselling (71%), and culturally sensitive services for Aboriginal children (59%).

• A majority (82%) of reporting facilities are completely or partially wheelchair accessible and 18% offer partial services for the hearing impaired.

• Facilities reported providing an average of 50 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.