Searching for Victims Of Abuse Support Programs

Address issues, concerns, and challenges affecting seniors and disabled adults with respect to the law. This position is a community-based and community-driven initiative.

Information and support is available to seniors, their families or service providers. Programs and presentations are researched, developed and presented on a variety of topics (such as quality of life issues, frauds and scams, personal/home safety, etc.). Reports of abuse (physical, financial, psychological, or neglect) are forwarded to the officers for assessment and further investigation if required. Cases identified as criminal offences are followed up. Major cases may be referred to the Crimes Against Seniors Unit for further investigation.

Supports direct victims, their immediate family members, and witnesses in the immediate aftermath of violent crimes by providing short-term support with essential expenses in order to lessen the impact of the crime, enhance safety, and meet immediate practical needs arising from the commission of the crime.

Support is available for:

• Safety expenses
• Practical assistance expenses
• Travel and associated expenses
• Crime scene clean-up
• Counselling services, traditional Indigenous health services and associated transportation expenses
• Expanded supports for survivors of human trafficking and
• Supports for victims with serious injuries and for families of homicide victims

The program intervenes with fathers identified as at-risk for using abuse in their relationships with their partner and their children, in order to increase the safety and healthy functioning of the family. It responds to the needs of children who have experienced or been exposed to their fathers' use of abusive behaviour, by providing opportunities for these fathers to examine the impacts of their actions on their family, and to generate safer and more effective child-centered parenting strategies.

Offers informed support to women who have been exposed to sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, violence, harassment and/or trauma within a non-judgmental, inclusive environment in which they can increase their knowledge and understanding of woman abuse, and explore the options, resources and supports available.

An early intervention program that provides group supports for children who have witnessed woman abuse, by offering opportunities to share their feelings regarding the abuse and violence they have witnessed, in a creative and supportive environment.

• Kids Groups programs involve safety planning, abuse prevention, building self-esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, and dating violence support
• Mother's Groups programs involve definind and understanding abuse, discussions about the impact of children witnessing abuse, parenting skills, safety planning, and custody access issues

Supports children who have experienced abuse. Services include assessment, safety planning, counselling, and short-term follow-up supports.

Offers legal services, education, and system navigation to the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit community in Hamilton. This is a francophone project that has an accompanying English component.
Services include:

• Training for community groups, service providers, and legal workers
• Public legal education that is culturally sensitive and delivered with accessibility in mind
• Legal support and services for disadvantaged queer clients

Provides a range of services that safeguard the legal, personal and financial interests of certain private individuals and estates.

There are a number of Violence Against Women programs and services in the Hamilton/Niagara region funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

These programs serve any woman who identifies herself, or is identified as having been physically, sexually or emotionally abused by her partner or significant other, or those who are adult survivors of sexual assault or woman abuse.

Violence Against Women programs are designed to increase the safety of women and their children who are experiencing abuse, by providing safe shelter, safety plan development, crisis counselling, and help them access resources to live free of domestic abuse.

Violence Against Women programs include:
* Emergency shelter and related services
* Crisis/support services
* Counselling services
* Housing support services
* Transitional support services
* Early intervention services for child witnesses of domestic violence
* A province-wide crisis line

Program is aimed at children who witness domestic violence/woman abuse and provides women and children with a safe place to discuss the impact of abuse on their lives.

Provides support to youth 24 years of age and younger who are or have been involved in a human trafficking situation.

Services include:

• one-on-one support from a case worker
• community referrals
• safety planning
• harm reduction strategies

Provides a place of sanctuary, safety and support for women (and their children) with a variety of programs.

Family Court Support Worker Program

• Provides information on the family court process, assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid), referral to specialized services and supports in the community, safety planning, and court accompaniment to proceedings, when appropriate.

Transitional Housing and Support Program

• Help women and their children access services to establish violence and abuse-free lives in the community.

Second Stage Services

• Offer furnished, affordable housing to both single women and women with children for up to one year. Supports are geared to creating greater physical, emotional and financial stability in the aftermath of violence and abuse.

A 40-bed emergency shelter for individuals and their children who are homeless and fleeing violence and abuse. Provides safe, short-term accommodation in private family-style units, safety planning and emergency transportation to the shelter, if needed, referrals and advocacy for legal, medical, financial, employment, housing and community services.

Offers confidential support services for survivors of sexual violence, 16 years of age and older, who have experienced sexual violence at any point in their lives. Services include individual and group counselling.

Due to the COVID-19 virus, the SACHA office has been closed and all in-person programs have been cancelled. Staff will be working from home and can be reached by phone or email. Staff support is available 24/7 via the helpline at 905-525-4162.

Offers supportive programming for women from Hamilton's diverse racial and cultural communities, in particular women who are immigrant, newcomers, and refugees. Services include: individual support, women's support groups, information and referral, advocacy and accompaniment, and practical assistance such as childcare, bus tickets, and snacks.

Offers confidential support services for survivors of sexual violence, 16 years of age and older, who have left sex-traf­fick­ing at any point in their lives. Services include individual, group counselling and advocacy.

Provides a place of sanctuary, safety and support for women (and their children) with a variety of programs.

Family Court Support Worker Program

• Provides information on the family court process, assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid), referral to specialized services and supports in the community, safety planning, and court accompaniment to proceedings, when appropriate.

Transitional Housing and Support Program

• Help women and their children access services to establish violence and abuse-free lives in the community.

Second Stage Services

• Offer furnished, affordable housing to both single women and women with children for up to one year. Supports are geared to creating greater physical, emotional and financial stability in the aftermath of violence and abuse.

A 20-bed emergency shelter for women that includes support programs addressing homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and violence, as well as programs for the children of residents.

Offers peer support groups to adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and adult male victims of sexual assault.

Services provided by Interval House of Hamilton at Women's Centre of Hamilton and Flamborough Women's Resource Centre. Provides support for women and their children who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse including:

• community counselling services
• individual counselling
• employment counselling
• peer support
• wellness and recovery groups
• safety planning
• housing services

Offers legal advocacy support, information, and court accompaniment to women who have experienced family violence. Provides support with navigating legal systems when leaving an abusive relationship, including family, criminal, immigration, and child welfare issues.

A free legal clinic with volunteer lawyers from across Halton Region, on a rotating schedule, in the following areas:

• family law
• immigration law
• criminal law

Mental health advocate

• for women struggling with depression, anxiety or other undiagnosed mental health challenges and are in need of mental health supports

Drop-in support

• open to all women who may be going through a difficult time and are facing challenges in their everyday life
• peer supporters provide one-on-one support by phone, email or in person

Abuse/crisis counselling

• one-on-one counselling for women dealing with the effects of abuse
• women will receive emotional support and guidance throughout the healing process with a focus on concrete plans for future safety

Life skills coaching

• women dealing with low self-esteem can receive up to eight personalized life coaching sessions
• learn skills to find empowerment and boost self-esteem

Legal Advice

• volunteer lawyers provide a free half hour legal advice session

Income tax clinic

• tax preparation for low income women that includes advice on rebates and benefits including the Canada Child Tax Benefit and health care benefits
• call or visit for financial eligibility
• clinics run from the end of February to the end of March

Borrow a Laptop

• loaning laptops to women in the Halton region to support their personal and professional development goals, and to make it easier for women to join our workshops
• Drop in or send an email to borrow one from our Technology Lending Library

Offers a variety of workshops and support groups, both in-person and virtually

• please visit website or Eventbrite for more details and to register

Assertiveness Coaching

• learn how to ask for and receive the things you want from life
• practice communication skills to be more assertive at work, in relationships and other areas of your life

Self-esteem Series

• focuses on making positive changes and facing challenges head on
• provides the opportunity to foster friendships, build confidence and promote positive thinking

Divorce and Finance workshop

• a divorce financial analyst discusses financial mistakes women can avoid
• topics include selling or keeping your home, support payments, income tax, banking and credit

Family Law 101

• one day seminar introducing the basics of Family law and covering everything women need to know about separation and divorce
• topics include property division, spousal support, child custody and access, separation agreements and child support

Coffee and Conversation

• join the group for lighthearted conversation and snacks

Self care

• a monthly drop-in workshop for participants to learn ways to practice self care in the midst of all of the chaos

Provides anonymous and confidential crisis support, counseling, safety planning, information, and referrals for women that have experienced abuse or violence.