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| 24 hour Crisis Line |
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Cythera Transition House provides a safe refuge and basic necessities for up to 30 days to women and their children fleeing abuse. Staff are available 24 hours a day to provide emotional support in a secure, nonjudgmental, confidential environment. The location of the transition house and identity of its residents is kept strictly confidential. |
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Residents are also provided with practical help and information on linking up with services such as housing, legal rights, income assistance, child-care, and other community resources. In addition, a Children's Support Worker is available to assist children deal with this very traumatic change in their lives. Upon leaving the transition house, ongoing support is available to both women and children through programs offered at our Counselling Centre. |
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If you have been assaulted, or fear that you will be assaulted by your partner, it is important that you take every action possible to protect yourself. |
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DON'T KEEP IT A SECRET |
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AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP |
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Protecting yourself is far more important than protecting your reputation. Remember, you DO NOT have control over the abuse, but you DO have control over your own safety and the safety of your children. |
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MAKE A PLAN |
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If you are being abused but do not plan to leave your home at this time, you should at least have a plan in place for doing so to ensure your safety in the event that your partner threatens to become violent again. If you watch his moods and behaviour closely, you will probably know when he is about to explode. There is usually a pattern. Writing down the events of past blow-ups may help you to identify this pattern - maybe he drinks more, goes out more or doesn't come home at all. Maybe he complains more or doesn't talk at all. It is important for your safety to know exactly what changes he goes through before he becomes violent. |
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THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOU IF YOU LEAVE |
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In an emergency, leave as quickly as possible. Do not stop to collect things on this list. Just go. But if you do have time, try to take as many of these things as you can: |
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 important documents such as birth certificates, passports, citizenship papers, immigration papers, treaty card (if applicable), health & immunization cards, social insurance card, his social insurance number; child custody papers, court orders such as peace bond |
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money, credit cards
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cheque book & last banking statement, bank book, savings bonds, mortgage papers
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house keys
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driver's license/registration and car keys
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prescription medicine |
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glasses/contact lenses
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children's favourite toys/ special blanket
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clothing for a few days |
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heirlooms/valuable jewelry & favourite photographs |
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If you are thinking about leaving, you might want to collect some of these things and put them in a safe place in case you need to leave quickly. |
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CYTHERA SECOND STAGE HOUSING |
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When available, our Second Stage Program offers two units of furnished rental accommodation and counselling for up to one year for women and their children. The program gives participants the opportunity to become established in the community, a chance to rebuild their lives, and move towards further empowerment and independence. |