Partnership to offer affordable housing, career options to women leaving domestic violence

Two local social service agencies have teamed up to help some women leaving domestic violence find an affordable place to live — and, potentially, a new career path. 

KW Habilitation, which provides services to adults with developmental disabilities, owns 22 apartments at an affordable housing property on Sydney Street in Kitchener. Some of the units are intended for adults with disabilities but others are available to anyone on the region's affordable housing wait list.

A new partnership with Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) means that when units become available, women staying in shelter will be given the opportunity to interview for a spot. 

Ann Bilodeau, executive director of KW Habilitation, explained the community follows a "neighbour helping neighbour" model. 

"We just like making sure that people are feeling that they want to be part of the community living within that home," said Bilodeau. 

Housing and employment are intertwined goals for this new program. KW Habilitation has recently faced a shortage of developmental services workers, Bilodeau said. It's hoped that some of the women who find housing through KW Habilitation will be interested in apprenticing in this field. 

"They now have a different reason to want to live in our building and that's the opportunity for a career and potential job," Bilodeau said of the women targeted through this new program. "In [our] interview they have to be at least willing to look at that."

Housing, employment often out of reach

Finding a job and an affordable place to live are often major hurdles for women leaving abusive partners, said Jennifer Hutton. She said that's why the partnership with KW Habilitation has the potential to make a big difference in the lives of at least some of these women. 

"It's becoming increasingly more difficult for women to find safe and affordable housing once they leave shelter," said Hutton, who is executive director of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

It can take up to a year for women on the wait list to get access to affordable housing through the region, Hutton said. And while victims of domestic violence can get priority status for housing, Hutton explained they need to be able to obtain documentation proving cohabitation, which can be difficult for women living with controlling and abusive partners. 

Finding a rental through the private market, she said, isn't much easier.  

"Women are coming to us needing emergency shelter, but then it's difficult for them to get safe housing once they leave shelter," she said. 

Employment is also a crucial part of gaining independence from abusive partners, and Hutton said the developmental service worker designation "would open up a lot of career opportunities" for women leaving shelters.

She thinks many women who come through the organization's shelters would be a good fit for this kind of position. 

"We know that the women that come to us have all sorts of skills … they're obviously very resourceful. They've often been in caretaker roles, are often able to multitask, and they obviously come to us with a lot of grit," Hutton said. 

With funding from Developmental Services Ontario, KW Habilitation will offer DSW training for the women recruited for this new housing and employment program, Bilodeau said.

The first woman to move into the affordable housing building through this program will do so in the coming weeks, Hutton said.