This article is from page 4 of the 2012-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
CLARE Haven’s refuge service provides emergency accommodation to women and children experience violence in the home.
While staying in one of the organisation’s six units they receive oneto-one support, medical assistance, legal assistance including a court companion and financial direction including help accessing housing and social welfare payments.
Childcare services are also provided to help care for the children and liaise with the child’s school where necessary.
Clare Haven also provides support services that include a drop in centre in Ennis and outreach centres in Kilrush, Shannon, Scariff and Killaloe.
During these visits women meet privately with support workers.
“It is important to note that when a woman come to us we don’t tell her what to do. We outline her options.
“We will support them around what they want to do,” explained Ms Dunne. Often this support can take years, with many women returning to the services years after they first made contact.
Domestic abuse is not a straight forward issue with a straight forward solution, according to Clare Haven’s manager, and the support workers work with the woman at her own pace. The service also provides a 24hour helpline.
While 73 women and their children stayed in the refuge so far this year, it is not as high as other years, not because there are less cases of abuse but there are less follow on services.
Accessing homes for these women is proving particularly difficult in the last 12 months, so they have to stay longer in what should be temporary accommodation at Clare Haven.
This causes somewhat of a backlog in the refuge adding to Clare Haven’s problems.
“The volume of women needing support has increased so much in the last number of years,” said Ms Dunne. Yet the funding continues to be cut. Clare Haven has to fundraise every year to ensure its doors stay open, with the Clare 10K providing most of its charitable funds.
It also relies on one-off donations from the public and the donation of goods especially food, clothes, baby goods such as nappies, and underwear (new) to help the families survive until social welfare payments come through.
“That [donations] keeps us going,” said Denise, outlining how they have had to cut their school’s education programme and awareness programmes in the community.
“We’re left with the critical service. If they cut us any more, the board will have to look at cutting back services next year,” the manager warned.
“We are a critical service in this county. By cutting funding you are cutting the service.”
“16 Days of Action and Awareness on Violence against Women” begins on November 25 to December 10.
The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness on the whole issue of violence against women.