The Organization
Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke (WHE) is a feminist, multi-service, community-based organization in South Etobicoke. Since 1978, they have been serving women-identified individuals and their dependents from diverse backgrounds experiencing violence and poverty.
WHE envisions all women having choice and opportunity to live their lives in dignity, with equal access to economic and social opportunities and freedom from violence. They realize their vision through their mission to provide a safe refuge, counselling, support and advocacy for women and their children, while also working towards a more equal society where the inherent value of all women is recognized and celebrated.
There are two distinct locations from which WHE delivers life-saving services and programs to address the impact of violence and poverty to women and their dependents. Their shelter provides a safe haven within a residential environment that can support up to 25 persons (10 adults and 15 children and or youth). In 2006, WHE opened the Outreach Centre – offering in-person and virtual programs and services – to respond to the increasing number of those in need of their support.
Both their residential and outreach facilities provide services that include: trauma-informed crisis and ongoing individual and group counselling services, advocacy and referrals to housing, legal, immigration, education, childcare, healthcare and employment resources, child and parent supports, transitional and settlement supports, and skill-building programming for children, youth and adults. These services and programs support clients to address the current crisis, and support their journey to empowerment as they build sustainable, safe and successful lives.
The Project
WHE recognizes the connection between violence against women the broader socio-economic context that perpetuates a cycle of poverty, homelessness and dependence. Although, survivors of domestic violence access WHE’s shelter so seek safety, they stay an average of 8 months because many of them are not yet in a position of financial independence, or able to afford to rent or home ownership in the GTA.
Recognizing that their housing advocacy needed to be paired with more tangible solutions, WHE committed to exploring their role within the spectrum of housing solutions. WHE is looking to expand on current services offered to provide additional options and opportunities for clients that need support leaving abusive relationships.
The core question of this project is determining how to leverage their existing assets, going beyond shelter services, focusing more on transitional and longer-term affordable housing options. The organization is now looking to work through a transition from service provider, to service provider and landlord.