30 Simon Communities in Ireland Services that accommodated only a small number of women and domestic violence services, in particular, were typically depicted as less chaotic compared to a majority of hostel settings. These service environments were also typically described as more conducive to re-building confidence and fostering a personal sense of empowerment. “They staff in domestic violence refuge are very good, the way they just encourage you, support you, lift you up. Like I am still existing, it’s just because of their support – they just try to hold you tight and just all the time, they are encouraging you to hang on. They are very good.” (Bina, 32) “They staff build your hope and sympathy and courage … when I am there domestic violence refuge I feel that I am not hopeless.” (Maria, 29) Women who had accessed these kinds of services often reported positive and encouraging interactions with staff members as well as significant practical support that enabled them to reclaim control over their lives and also begin to take steps towards achieving personal goals: “They’ve staff in domestic violence refuge helped me deal with life, the living … I’m getting better at it, I’m getting better at handling things. I’m learning, I really am” (Maeve, 43). Indeed, the origins of domestic violence services (both emergency refuges and other forms of accommodation such as transitional housing) have a particular emphasis on empowerment and confidence-building for women who have experienced gender-based violence (Enander, 2010). Most of the women who had contact with domestic violence services responded positively to this ethos. “Domestic violence refuge is the main place where the people were advising me and, you know, helping me which way to go and where to go, you know. They were telling me about my rights, the women’s rights, they were helping me to build my confidence and all the legal things and how to settle in the city – how to come back to myself. They were helping me to find a course and, you know, they organised the meeting with one lady, she is like an education officer in county name. So I met with her and I was keeping in touch with her. So, yeah, that’s a very helpful place.” (Tereska, 25) “When you have no one to listen to you … the best part is that the organisers in here domestic violence refuge, they listen to you, they believe you and they try to help you. And that is the most important thing you need when you are just scattered and broken.” (Bina, 32) Generally speaking, the process of re-housing appeared to be more linear and immediate for women who were engaged with domestic violence services than for those residing in emergency or longer-stay hostel provision. For example, several who had accessed domestic violence services explained that housing options were made available to them quickly and that they subsequently moved from a domestic violence shelter to transitional, supported or longer- term housing. Aisha had presented to domestic violence services intermittently throughout the course of her abusive marital relationship before making the decision to leave her violent husband permanently: “I knew I had to move on, I had to go”. She explained that she quickly moved from a domestic violence refuge to transitional housing where she had been residing for one year at the time of interview.
Women, Homelessness and Service Provision
To see the actual publication please follow the link above