Interview with Katherine Kalinowski, CEO of Good Shepherd Centers of Hamilton
Women and children in abusive relationships are at greater risk when the relationship breaks down and the only way they can be safe from domestic violence is for them to leave – often finding temporary refuge in their local shelter. However, leaving their home can intensify the effects of economic abuse, particularly for women leaving long term relationships. For example, the breakup of a relationship may lead to the sale of the family home and the only way for the woman to leave is to wait for the sale to get the funds to buy or rent another home.
I have worked with a number of women who have left their relationships and taken a smaller settlement just so they can leave their abuser. This smaller settlement may then lead to paying a full year’s rent in advance to secure housing as their single income, if they are working, may not be enough to buy a home.
KK: With economic abuse, we look at the dynamic in the relationship that is about power and control. A partner could refuse to allow a woman to go out to work or force her to go to work and not give her access to the money she needs to take care of herself. This reduces her ability to make decisions related to money for herself. She is excluded from the financial decisions made in the family unit or the partnership. He may force her to participate in economic activity against her will that could include pushing her into sex work; she could be forced to go out to work without having adequate child care in place first. These activities can be powerful and impactful on a personal level. Additionally we need to look at the cultural and institutional forces that shape the women’s lives that contribute to financial stability and there are cultural norms that are different for different women.
Additionally women could be forced to work many different jobs at the same time to make enough money to buy basic necessities.
How do the shelters support women regain their financial independence?
KK: We provide women and children with a safe haven and shelter first and then we connect women with community based programs within the violence against women sector. Shelters employ very dedicated and informed staff to assist women with finding a safe home and then help them navigate the systems including legal processes that can address their experience of economic abuse. We try and promote some level of economic stability for the woman and children and sometimes for the extended generational family members too in some cases. Women are provided with in kind services such as child care so they can attend appointments, and basic necessities such as toiletries, food and shelter.
While this may not seem like a lot it does allow women to fund other essentials they may need such as saving for first and last month rent.
KK: Good Shepherd (GS) employees are also well informed in how to navigate the welfare supports systems like Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). There are support staff available for women to navigate the family court system, and help with making referrals and advocating to systems to help with economical accountability from a former partner and/or to advocate to those systems that are designed to provide a safety net for people in difficult situations. Additionally, GS staff provide counselling and education for women about what economic abuse looks like and the impact of what that is and validating their experiences. GS connects and refers women to partner agencies in the community who may help them further their education and vocational training. However, the reality is that shelters are at their max and addressing economic abuse is probably not the first priority within a shelter; it’s finding them safe haven first and it is part of the package. Women who come to shelters have been in a period of extreme crisis because they are not safe and have had to leave their homes. Money is an important force and they find a way out of this it if they can, but sometimes it may not be the first priority for women who have deep trauma and their children are experiencing deep trauma. So some of the support happens beyond the emergency and shelters provide a part in the more holistic response to the abuse women have experienced.
Next week we’ll share more of our interview with Katherine Kalinowski, CEO of Good Shepherd Centers with more insight into economic abuse, food banks and housing. Show your support for domestic and economic abuse survivors and sign CCFWE’s petition to protect and support survivors of economic abuse.
By Manjit Kaur CCFWE Volunteer
