The Edge Mission Services of Hamilton - Also Inside
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The EdgeMission Services of Hamilton
Fall 2018
How Your Gifts Help
Women Find Family
in Community
Also Inside:
Family At Work 3
Give Thanks 4
The Bonds We Share
Back Cover Since 1956
Feature Story
“Willow’s is my Family”
Diane (right) is a participant at Willow’s Place, and comes to the drop-in as often as she can. She enjoys coming to
the space to do laundry, and to share conversations and meals with her Willow’s Place family.
Diane was a widower, had lost both her parents and Diane has been coming to Willow’s Place for two
was estranged from her daughter and extended years, and feels at home when she’s in the space.
family members. She had a house that required “My feet just seem to know where they’re going
too much upkeep, and a small circle of friends who every day,” she laughed. “I love to come here instead
were difficult to keep in touch with. She started of staying at home. The people here are family like
to feel down, depressed, and lonely. That’s when I’ve never had. Everyone is friends with everyone,
someone from her church asked her if she had we all get along well. They take me the way I am,
heard about Willow’s Place, and suggested she go. and I really can be myself here because Willow’s is
my family.” Diane’s daughter also comes to Willow’s
She decided to come and see what Willow’s Place
Place. They have been able to reconnect with one
was. “I wish I had learned about it years ago!”
another, and spend time together at the drop-in.
she said. Women from all walks of life come to
Willow’s Place. When asked what her first thoughts
were, Diane said “It was very different for me, “Family to me means to have a secure and
getting used to all the different people that come stable unit you can count on. It also means
here. But I see the other side of it now. We’re all to respect one another and love one another
human beings, everyone has their own “glitch”, but unconditionally”
everyone deserves help and love. They are all good,
strong, good-willed people.” While talking to Diane, it was clear how much
Diane’s sentiment reflects the heart of Willow’s Willow’s Place means to her. The relationships she
Place. The name “Willow’s Place” was chosen by has with everyone are truly special. Even when she’s
the first women who came to the drop-in. It refers home, she cherishes the bonds she has, and they
to the qualities of the willow tree that make it comfort her. “I’m not a good sleeper. I have a lot
one of the strongest and most resilient trees. Its of fears….When I can’t sleep, I turn on the radio to
branches can bend the farthest of any tree without CHML, and I’ll hear Sue’s (one of our Willow’s Place
breaking. It serves as a metaphor for women volunteers) voice during the Mission Services of
who may have experienced oppression, violence, Hamilton ad. It is comforting when I get nervous or
isolation, and discrimination yet remain strong and scared at night. I feel like she’s with me.”
continue to grow and thrive.
The Edge 1 Fall 2018
Willow’s Place offers hope to these women in
Did You Know... addition to critical supports and services. All women
According to Hamilton’s Point In Time Count, are welcome to come eat breakfast and lunch - which
108 women in Hamilton are homeless. As may be their only meals of the day, sleep safely with
a roof over their head during the day, and access
service providers, we know there are more.
shower and laundry facilities to stay healthy. For
many, it is the only safe space they have. Staff and
81.5% of homeless women don’t have access volunteers focus a lot of energy to referring women
to a shelter bed in Hamilton unless they are to other community services so they can receive the
escaping abuse. mental, emotional, and physical support they need.
66% of women facing homelessness are It offers a start, but in Hamilton we have much more
escaping abuse, trauma, and violence. to do. Even with the identified need, and increased
community supports, critical gaps remain in women’s
19 women are turned away from Violence homelessness support systems. In addition to more
emergency beds, we need longer-term solutions,
Against Women shelters on any given night.
such as homelessness prevention programs, and
increased supports and services for women who are
25% of ALL women experiencing homeless or precariously-housed.
homelessness in Canada are sexually assaulted.
Most of all, we need you.
“It is a place to keep grounded and sane,” she
responded when asked what family, and Willow’s
Place, means to her. “If I have a bad day, I come
here and feel better. I hope this program is around
for a long time – it is needed…Willow’s Place is my
family. If I lost them, I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Willow’s Place is the only women-exclusive safe
drop-in with the services we offer in Hamilton.
It is also the only community that some women
who are otherwise socially-isolated have. Many of
the women, we believe, echo Diane’s statement:
“Surviving is [what I do] here. I do everything here,
except sleeping overnight.”
Diane’s story is touching, and full of hope. However,
the majority of women who access Willow’s are in
significant crisis - facing homelessness, abuse, and
hopelessness.
Are YOU Wrapped in Courage?
The purple scarf is a symbol of the
courage it takes for a woman to flee
abuse. Get your new Square Scarf
with the 2018 design today for $20
and stand with your community to
end violence against women. Call
Katie at 905-528-4211 ext. 3102
The Edge 2 Fall 2018
Family at Work
Laura is a Residential Program Manager
at Inasmuch House our Violence Against
Women Shelter. She has a passion for
fostering change and growth in her own
life, and the lives of those around her.
“
In Her Own Words... At Inasmuch House (IH), we always amaze me with their resilience. Sometimes,
see lots of different types of families. It’s hard not women arrive at IH pregnant or with an infant , and
to feel a familial connection with colleagues and as a team we are able to watch the child develop
the women here, and I believe this is something and grow, and that is always really special.
which translates for the IH residents as well. Often,
The best part about the job is being able to
women spend a significant amount of time here,
celebrate the successes with each woman.
and may be disconnected from their own families,
Whether she has found a new home, a new job,
friends, culture, and their sense of normalcy. When
enrolled in school, or reached a goal she has been
they are able to find another woman or family
working on for a long time, seeing the genuine
living at IH whom they may identify with, you see
happiness and excitement in those moments
a special connection happen and level of support
reminds me why I value the work I do.
offered that only they are able to understand and
provide to one another.
When I reflect on the work, I have always felt
a great sense of privilege that the women and
children seeking support at Inasmuch are willing
“
However, it is unfortunate that we continue to
require safe spaces for women and children to
flee to in times of need. I wish that all women and
children were able to live in safety every day. But
the reality is the issues of Domestic Violence and
to share their most intimate and often traumatic
homelessness are real and ongoing.
stories and experiences with me. The children
“The staff help to create a family environment. They eat lunch with us, are very helpful, and check in on the
moms and kids. It feels home-like here because there are a lot of supports in-house and the staff are great at
community partnerships like daycare and other providers. It feels like wrap-around supports. And the kids are
not isolated because there are other kids here to play with.”
- Inasmuch House Resident
“I came from a rough environment to Inasmuch and the difference is nice. The staff are always there for me.
Some of the women really support each other....There are similar stories that bring us together.”
- Inasmuch House Resident
The Edge 3 Fall 2018
Give Thanks
in all circumstances ?
As the holiday seasons approach, many of us think income on rent. Carol Cowan-Morneau, Mission
about, hope for, and prepare for making great food Services’ executive director, is the co-chair of the
and memories with our families. We can’t help but Emergency Food Strategic Planning Committee in
start to feel warmth, joy, and thankfulness as we Hamilton, and echoes the words of Hamilton Food
anticipate what’s next. Share: “After struggling to cover the basics, come
payday, there is no ‘nice to have’ on your household
Unfortunately, for many of our neighbours, the
list - only what you can afford. For too many, too
coming seasons are just as difficult as the ones
often, food will barely make an appearance on that
that have passed. They instill fear, instead of joy,
list.”
cold, instead of warmth, and sadness, instead of
thankfulness. Giving thanks in all circumstances Our Good Food Centre does all it can to help the
seems next to impossible. While most families more than 900 families, or 2,500 individuals, that
prepare to sit down and have holiday meals use our food centre every month. When summer
together, many are wondering if they’ll be able to ends, the need for food donations stay just as high,
eat at all. or even increase as the colder months come.
With rent prices continuing to climb and social While local groups fight for fair rent prices to
assistance rates remaining low, poverty rates decrease burdens, we need your help to fight food
are increasing, and with them, food bank usage. insecurity. Please support Mission Services’ Good
According to Hamilton Food Share’s 2018 Hunger Food Centre in the coming seasons. Help us in the
Count, 9,211 food bank users pay market rent rates fight against poverty today and spread some holiday
and 4,698 of them spend more than half their joy to our neighbours.
THANKSGIVING FOOD
DRIVE 2018
Organize a Food Drive With Your Church, School, or Community in
Support of Mission Services of Hamilton
Questions? Contact Katie Jessup at 905-525-4211 ext 3102 or
kjessup@mission-services.com
Exercising is good for your body. Exercising for
a cause is good for your soul. Help us reach our
fundraising goal by sponsoring or riding with
the Mission Services of Hamilton team. Go to:
rideforrefuge.org/charity/missionhamilton
The Edge 4 Fall 2018
The Bonds We Share
“Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their labor. If
Lives YOU Have
either of them falls down, one can help
the other up.” TOUCHED
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (NIV)
Carol Cowan-Morneau May - July
Executive Director
In this issue, we hear from participants space is low-barrier, which means that
and staff from our women’s programs services are sensitive to women who 21,986
– Willow’s Place, our safe women’s have experienced extreme forms of Meals Served
drop-in centre, and Inasmuch House, trauma from violence and abuse and
our Violence Against Women Shelter. all women are welcome and cared for,
The stories that Diane and Laura tell are regardless of their needs. 2,293
touching, and inspire hope. But we need long-term solutions.
This is only part of the story. Sadly, We need increased funding for Food Hampers
the violence and abuse many women emergency beds and essential
face leads to homelessness which is a supports.
growing crisis in Hamilton. Consider Most of all, we need you. Our 3,072
this: In Hamilton there are women in supporters and funders – our family
Volunteer Hours
need of emergency shelter services, – are the backbone of what we do.
who cannot find space because every Without you, we could not make a
bed is full. Services to support women difference in our community. Your
who are abused or homeless are in generosity connects women to the 340
high demand, in short supply, and help and supports that they need, Men and Women
inadequately funded. gives them a safe place to rest, and Sheltered
Mission Services sees women with allows them to find a family who cares
diverse needs and no vital supports, no for them.
food, no safe place to sleep and without Thank you for helping positively 162
social connections. A “safe” space for affect women in our community and
a woman, such as those at Willow’s being the glue that binds us together, Men and Women in
Place Drop-In and at Inasmuch House allowing us all to find family among Addiction Treatment
Shelter, is exclusively for women, with our neighbours.
secured entrance and staff support
that is non-judgmental and caring. This
Because every child deserves
the brightest possible future.
Please leave a gift to Mission Services
of Hamilton in your will.
To support Mission Services, call 1-877-542-2732, donate online at mission-services.com, or donate with
online banking (RBC, BMO and Central 1 customers)
PO Box 368 196 Wentworth St N Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2
(905) 528-4211 Charitable No. 11904 3206 RR0001
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