Who We Are
In 1985 the South West Nova Transition House Association established JUNIPER HOUSE as a safe shelter for abused women and their children in Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
JUNIPER HOUSE has a community Board of Directors and several working committees composed of people from Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne Counties. The house is staffed by an executive director, full and part-time counsellors, an Outreach Worker and a Children's Services worker.
The provincial government as well as private donations provide funding for JUNIPER HOUSE.
JUNIPER HOUSE is a registered charitable organization. All contributions are gratefully accepted.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
FIRST, we need to understand. Violence against women is often condoned by society, and physical abuse is just a
small part of this violence.
We need to understand that women stay in abusive relationships for very real and valid reasons:
- lack of affordable housing
- fear of losing their children
- knowledge that the law gives them little protection
- false belief that they are responsible for the abuse
- fear of poverty
- fear of continued violence against themselves or other family members
SECOND, we can become involved in activities, which work to decrease violence against women.
ARE YOU A WOMAN SUFFERING FROM ABUSE?
- One in six women in Canada are being abused by an intimate partner.
- Domestic violence can take the form of physical, emotional and sexual abuse
- It is ILLEGAL for a man to hit his wife and children. You are protected by the law, by the police and by the courts.
By neglecting to do anything about the abuse you are allowing the violence to continue. Only if you take action can you hope that change will occur.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
There are many agencies and services set up to help you, but YOU MUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP.
Go to your local women's shelter, your doctor or the emergency room of your local hospital or the RCMP and TELL THEM WHAT HAS HAPPENED. Take your children also if they have been hurt.
JUNIPER HOUSE PROVIDES:
- room for fifteen women and children
- a 24 hour toll free crisis telephone line
- 24 hour staffing
- a safe, comfortable living environment for as long as six weeks
- outreach programs
- supportive counselling
- help in understanding the legal and social services systems
- a space for women to learn to trust each other and to become productive and confident in their own abilities
- Our response often is, "If she's being beaten, why doesn't she leave?"
- There are many reasons for staying but fear is the common demominator. Fear of failure, fear of poverty and fear of reprisal.
COMMON REASONS FOR STAYING ARE:
LOVE FOR HER PARTNER
- between violent episodes he may be loving and caring
- she believes and hopes he will change
- some needs are being met in the relationship
- society perpetuates the idea of family as always being a place of safety
- the major responsibility for success or failure of a marriage is placed on the woman
- to seek help is to admit failure
- concern about the future of her children
- fear of losing custody if it is known there is violence in the family
- many abusive men threaten to hurt her children if a woman leaves
- forces her to keep quiet
- she is ashamed to involve family and friends
- 60% of all female homicide victims in Canada are killed by former or present partners
- pevious reports of violence haven't been taken seriously
- failure to be taken seriously by uninformed family, friends and professionals minimizes her problem and concerns and reinforces dependence on her partner