For three decades, the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter has been offering refuge, support and services to women and their dependent children in crisis. Annually, more than 400 women and children access the Shelter having fled their homes because of an abusive situation.
The history of the Shelter dates back to 1974 when it was housed in an 8-bed rented facility. In 1976, a larger house was purchased which accommodated 17 women and children. For the next sixteen years it became the temporary home for thousands of abused women and their children.
Sadly, local need continued to increase and the premises became inadequate so in 1990, the Y undertook a fundraising venture to build a new shelter. Thanks to the generous support from the private and corporate sectors, the Shelter moved into a beautiful new 8-bedroom, 23-bed house in the fall of 1992. The larger facility also allowed for greater program enhancement and delivery.
Our program has now grown to include the Y Women's Emergency Shelter, Outreach Services, and the Children Who Witness Abuse Program.
Services at the Y Women's Emergency Shelter: 24-hour staffing and crisis line; safe refuge for women, with or without children, who experience or are at risk of experiencing abuse; advocacy for clients experiencing difficulty with bureaucracy; accompaniment to court and other appointments; one-on-one support with qualified staff; parenting support; saftey planning; support groups.
Services for children residing at the Y Women's Emergency Shelter include: age appropriate craft and recreation with a child and youth worker, on going support from a family suport worker, access to children’s programs at the Kamloops Community YM/YWCA.
Women being abused or at risk of being abused by a spouse or intimate partner are eligible to seek Shelter Services. For women whose problems are related to their mental health or to drug or alcohol use, other services will be recommended.
For Shelter Services please call (250) 374-6162.
Outreach Services: Provides a mobile response to womenand their dependant children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencingabuse. Services can include: one to one and/or group support; accompanyment to court, police, lawyer, doctor, or Ministry appointments; referrals to other community services. Response is based on the needs of the women referred. The program provides community education presentations on the intimate partner abuse and family abuse. This program serves Kamloops and communities in the metro area.
For Outreach Services please call 320-3110
Children Who Witness Abuse Program: Provides a non crisis intervention community based program with the goal to interrupt or break the cycle of intergenerational abuse The program has both group and individual counselling for children and youth ages 5-19 and provides individual support, parenteducation and parallel groups for non offending caregivers. The program provides community education presentations on family violence, the cycle and the effects on Children.
For the Children Who Witness Abuse Program please call 374-2111
Q. What is the Y Women’s Shelter?
A. In Kamloops our Shelter is synonymous with Transition House in other communities. Our mandate is to provide safe, supportive emergency refuge for women with or without children who are being abused by an intimate partner.
Q. How do I know if I am abused?
A. Trust your inner feelings. Are you "walking on eggshells" around your partner? Do you have to account for your time away? Do you feel put down or threatened in any way? Are you being pushed, shoved, slapped or punched by your partner? If it feels abusive, it probably is!
Q. What can I expect if I come to the Y Women’s Shelter?
A. You can expect confidentiality between you and the shelter staff. You can expect to be believed when you speak about your experiences. You can expect to feel safe and supported. You can expect a safe, supportive, loving and non-threatening environment for you and your children. You will meet women who share the same or similar experiences as you. You can expect to have some fun even though you are in crisis. You can expect to leave the shelter with more understanding about your relationship than when you arrived.
Q. How much will it cost me to stay at the Shelter?
A. Your accommodation, meals and support will cost you nothing and we have basic personal supplies.
Q. How long may I stay at the Shelter?
A. You may stay up to 30 days. During this time you will have a safe environment and experienced staff to assist you in making some difficult decisions by offering you information and support.
Q. How do I know if a stay in the Shelter is the right thing for me?
A. Phone us, we are here 24-hours/day each and every day. We will tell you about what is available here, help you assess your safety in your own home, put you in touch with other shelters or transition houses in the country, refer you to other agencies or people or offer you support through our non residential services.
