COCHRANE— Big Hill Haven Safety and Resources are moving online to ensure that women experiencing domestic violence in the community have a safe network of support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virus has proven challenging for the organization, Big Hill Haven intensive case manager Patti Fisher because she is not able to be out and active in the community when assisting those in need.
“I can still do all of the same things for and with her, but I can’t see her eyes and her face and affect,” Fisher said.
Because of this, she expects friends or neighbours will be more important than ever in helping survivors of domestic violence.
Fisher said she hopes community members who receive disclosures will point women towards Big Hill Haven.
As intensive care manager Fisher said she works with women who are experiencing domestic violence and need support, bringing together agencies in Cochrane so these needs are met.
Fisher estimates that she helps more than 90 women a year.
She described domestic assault as an epidemic in the country because one out of three Canadians knows of someone who is experiencing domestic assault, Fisher said, adding that these numbers are even higher in Alberta.
Fisher said she was surprised there has not been a spike in women looking for help during the pandemic because stressful situations can inflame domestic violent situations.
After speaking with Calgary Police Service, Fisher said she became concerned that women are trapped at home and unable to get to a phone or computer to reach out for help.
“We believe domestic violence is increasing but the calls for help haven’t caught up with it,” Fisher said. “Hopefully we don’t see anything too serious.”
The services provided by Big Hill Haven are free, confidential and non-judgmental Fisher said. She added that whatever course of action a woman chooses to take will be supported.
“My role is to support her in the choices she makes,” she said. “It’s so scary and there’s so many fears and every women's situation is unique.”
She added that abuse does not only present physically and that many clients also experience emotional abuse.
Her goal, Fisher said, is to be a light at the end of the tunnel and show women their options of escaping a domestic abuse situation.
Big Hill Haven has launched a chatline on its website to offer support. Women can access these resources anonymously from a computer and if they are comfortable they can call Fisher and can move forward with a plan to escape their abuser.
“There is help available. You are not alone,” Fisher said. “One of the worst things with people who go through domestic violence is they think they are the only one.”
Fisher explained that many clients blame themselves for the abuse they experience in their homes. She added that survivors did not cause the abuse they experienced and they did not deserve to feel unsafe in their own homes.
“You didn’t cause and you can’t control it,” she said. “We have to help you be safe and we can do that.”
Big Hill Haven can set up short-term emergency housing and is working with other shelters in the province to find a safe long-term situation for those in need.
“We can put a woman and her children into emergency housing immediately,” she said.
For those experiencing domestic violence the first step is calling Big Hill Haven, Fisher said. She can do a risk assessment on the phone and work on steps that can be taken to get them into a safe place.
“If they are in a situation where the risk is quite high and she is not ready to leave or she can’t leave I’ll do a safety plan with her over the phone,” Fisher said, explaining that this can include actions such as locating safe spaces in a house, preparing children on actions to stay safe and having friends or neighbours check-in to ensure a client is safe.
“When you are in crisis all your trying to do is survive,” Fisher said.
There is also support available for friends and neighbours who are helping someone, Fisher said, because it can be traumatic hearing the experience of domestic abuse.
Support can also be found from Sagesse a domestic assault support group, including an online program on how to respond if someone discloses a domestic assault.
Big Hill Haven continues to fundraise during the pandemic she said because the long term goal of the organization is to establish a permanent women’s shelter in Cochrane in the future.
For those who need Big Hill Haven's support services, they can call their 24-hour helpline at 403-234-7233 or visit their website bighillhaven.com.
“We want to make sure that people understand that we’ve got boots on the ground and we’re helping victims of domestic violence right now,” Fisher said.
