Violence refuge can’t cope with demand

A crisis service for victims of domestic violence can only cater for one in five women who contact it.

Sonas Housing Association operates a refuge and housing complexes in Dublin and has seen demand for its services almost double in the past two years.

The refuge had nearly 600 enquires from women living in abusive situations last year but could only take in 130 women and 250 children because it was already full.

Sonas Housing’s 2011 annual review, published today, reveals that all of its services are under pressure because of demand.

Of the 844 enquiries made to Sonas last year, only about 250 could be supported. This means on almost 550 occasions, women could not be accommodated because services were already operating at maximum capacity.

Throughout 2011 Sonas supported more than 320 women and more than 400 children in all of its services though supported housing, the refuge, and reach-out service.

Last year the association’s supported housing service helped 126 women and 135 children overcome their experience of abuse and move on to independent living.

An outreach service that launched in May 2011 supported 64 women over the year. The service is for women who need help and support but may not be able to access the refuge.

“Not having space available is a serious risk to the lives of many women and children,” said Anne Mc-Keon, chairwoman of Sonas Housing Association.

“There is a real need for more domestic violence spaces in the community to alleviate this risk.”

Sonas point out that Ireland lags behind the Council of Europe standard of refuge provision of one family unit for a population of 10,000.

In Ireland it is one unit for every 34,000.

* sonashousing.ie

Miriam’s tale

* Until just over two years ago I lived with my ex-partner with our four children outside Dublin.

I suffered physical, emotional, and mental abuse. We lived in a rural part of the country so we were isolated. I had no friends or family to turn to.

Two of my four children have physical disabilities.

I tried to leave the relationship and went to our local refuge but continued to be intimidated and control while there.

When he seriously physically abused me in front of the children, I knew I had to get away to a physically distant location for us to be safe. But I had nowhere to go.

I went to my children’s pre-school, my only social contact, and they helped me ring Women’s Aid who put me in contact with Sonas.

I packed my car early that morning while my partner slept and drove to Dublin, five hours away, where I went into the Sonas Viva House refuge.

I learned at the refuge to make choices and that really helped me to be free. I subsequently secured a five-year safety order against my ex.