No Transition Houses to Close; Family Violence Redesign Slows

COMMUNITY SERVICES--No Transition Houses to Close; Family Violence Redesign Slows

The redesign of the province's family violence and outreach programs will proceed at a slower pace than first proposed and no transition houses will close. Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services, said today, April 17, the government has determined that acting too quickly could destabilize the sector.

"Our first concern is the safety of women and children," said the minister. "We know the family violence sector shares that concern. We recognize there are some possible benefits in redesign. However, people in the sector also expressed concerns about the short time frame first proposed in the draft model. We're not in any rush -- that's why the model was presented to the sector as a draft."

The department had first proposed that the redesigned system be implemented Sept. 1, with program closures possible as early as June of this year. The minister has informed the sector that while the redesign will still occur, the process will take place over a longer time period.

Statistics show that of all women who are victims of abuse, only six per cent access emergency accommodation in transition houses. The remaining women seek support from friends, relatives and other community supports. Outreach programs can help all women who are victims of family violence.

The demand for outreach services is high. In the last fiscal year, the nine transition houses provided thousands of individual counselling sessions for women and children, counselling sessions by phone and hundreds of public education sessions. Victims of family violence also seek services from women's centres.

Cost-savings projected in the draft model have been reassessed. The department will put as much funding into program delivery as it can. The way services are administered will be reviewed to find where money can be saved. The minister said there is a second option if the redesign does not recover $890,000 from the sector.

"If we don't realize the expected savings from the redesign, then we will make the adjustments needed from within our departmental budget," said the minister.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following backgrounder and factsheet are about family violence programs in Nova Scotia.

Principles of the Redesign of the Family Violence Program

• Women and children will continue to be able to access emergency services and shelter as required.

• Maximum funding available is going to program delivery. Administrative efficiencies will be sought.

• There will be timely access to the full range of services.

• Services will be available in all regions of the province.

• There will be an expansion of outreach services.

• We wish to provide a service system that improves the range of services available.

Facts

• Occupancy rates in transition houses in Nova Scotia have declined. Since 1992 admissions for women have declined by 11.5 per cent, while admissions for children have declined by 33 per cent.

• Six of the nine transition houses have consistently had occupancy rates of less than 50 per cent, with four of these at less than 40 per cent.

• Days of care have dropped from 28,566 in 1992 to 23,704 in the fiscal year 2000-01. (Days of care relate to the number of days a woman is in a transition house and covers all nine transition houses over the year).

• A statistical survey in Canada saw a decline in reported incidences of family violence, from 12 per cent in 1993 to eight per cent in 1999.

• Twenty-three programs exist -- nine transition houses, six women's centres, six men's treatment programs and two counselling programs. All but one operate with separate administration structures and separate boards of directors.

• The Department of Community Services believes efficiencies can be found in the administrative side. In Bridgewater, New Glasgow and Sydney, all three programs (transition houses, women's centres and men's treatment programs) operate with separate administration structures.

• Only six per cent of women who are victims of abuse access emergency accommodation in a transition house. The remaining women seek support from friends, relatives and other community supports. Outreach programs can help all women who are victims of family violence.

• The demand for outreach services is high. In the last fiscal year, the nine transition houses provided more than 4,200 individual counselling sessions for women and children, 8,550 counselling sessions by phone, and 271 public education sessions. Victims of family violence also seek services from women's centres.

The facts point to a need for a redesign to create a service system that is co-ordinated, timely and cost-efficient.