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For the Prevention of Domestic Violence
A Division of The Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd.
(A Registered Canadian Charitable Organization)
The Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence was incorporated in Alberta on September 16, 1996.
Mission Statement:
To contribute to the creation of a safe community for abused women and their children through provision of quality services and collaboration with community resources.
Goal Statements
- To provide flexible, accessible, low cost, and secure transitional housing and support services for women with their children who have been assessed by crisis shelters.
- To decrease the length of stay and frequency of re-admission of women who are housed in shelters and have decided to leave their abusive situation but for whom housing and security are the primary barriers to departure.
- To achieve long term stability for women with their children who have been subjected to violence.
In House Service Goals
- To provide social, emotional and psychological support for families that come to the Centre.
- To ensure and/or provide counseling for families in order to alleviate the impacts of violence and break the abuse cycle. This will include support to understand working toward long-term healthy relationships.
- To assist families to achieve long term stability and to access employment, food, household goods, clothing, furniture, adequate and affordable housing and other necessities for independent living.
- To enable women to be successful as tenants, family members and members of a community.
- To build on the capacity and strengths of residents.
Overview of the Brenda Strafford Centre
The Brenda Strafford Centre For the Prevention of Domestic Violence (the Centre) opened its doors to clients on January 22, 1996 to provide supportive housing for abused women and their children. The Centre was created in response to the expressed needs of the family violence community who were aware that there was a lack of long term housing for abused women and their children. In addition, the
project was to be a cost-effective way to manage a supportive housing centre that was less intrusive for clients and promoted their independence.
The Centre provides counseling, support, and secure housing for 23 families for up to a 6-month period. Calgary Housing Co., as landlord, provides subsidized housing to the program participants residing at the Centre. Gateway Place, a component of the
Centre, provides shared accommodation for six abused women without children at another location. The
Centre provides follow-up services for one year for women who lived at
Centre or Gateway Place. Centre also provides outreach services to women who live in the community.
Referrals
One of the goals of The Brenda Strafford Centre is to work in conjunction with the emergency crisis shelters. Calgary area crisis shelters refer those women and their families to the BSC who would benefit from longer term support and secure housing. Our major referring agencies are:
· Awotaan Native Women's Shelter
· The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter
· The YWCA Sheriff King Home
· Discovery House and Wheatland Community Crisis Society.
The YWCA Sheriff King Home honoured us as a Strategic partner at their AGM, Spring, 2001.
History
Barrie I. Strafford, owner and operator of Bow View Manor Nursing Home lost his wife in an unfortunate accident
in 1974. This prompted Dr. Strafford to instigate a new foundation called The Brenda Strafford Foundation in memory of his wife. He began by opening a small eye hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, later opening more clinics in Dominica and other locations.
Barrie Strafford perceived a need for accommodation for women and their children who were leaving emergency shelters but had nowhere to go. This often left the women with few options regarding alternative safe housing, often resulting in women returning to their abusive partners.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation formed an Advisory Committee to look into the possibility of a Second Stage Housing Centre that would provide accommodation for up to six months. A decision was made to arrange funding for long term housing for women leaving emergency shelters. On January 22, 1996, in cooperation with Calhome Properties, The Brenda Strafford Centre opened its doors to women and their children leaving a abusive relationships. |
