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Domestic Violence Support: Shelters and Resources in Halton

Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects individuals and families across Halton. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, it's important to know that you are not alone and that help is available. Halton offers a variety of shelters and resources dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and helping them rebuild their lives.

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  • Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Survivors of Violence

    This resource provides information on the unique forms of abuse experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and offers guidance on safety planning and accessing support services.

  • Assessing Your Safety: A Guide for Individuals Experiencing Abuse

    This guide helps individuals assess their risk of experiencing severe harm or homicide in abusive relationships. It outlines risk factors, provides questions for self-reflection, and suggests resources for seeking help and developing safety plans.

  • Child Safety Plan

    A personalized safety plan for children in potentially unsafe situations, providing guidance on who to trust, where to go for help, and what to do in an emergency.

  • Creating a Safer Home: A Guide for Leaving Abusive Relationships

    This guide offers practical advice and safety planning strategies for individuals leaving abusive relationships. It covers topics such as creating an emergency escape plan, securing your home, protecting your privacy, and accessing support services.

  • Navigating the Criminal Court System in Ontario: A Guide for Survivors of Abuse

    This guide provides essential information and support for survivors of abuse involved in the criminal court process in Ontario. It covers topics such as understanding charges, court procedures, victim rights, safety planning, and available resources.

  • Criminal Harassment

    This resource provides information and safety planning strategies for individuals experiencing stalking or criminal harassment. It outlines the nature of stalking behaviors, identifies high-risk periods, and offers practical tips for enhancing personal safety in various situations.

  • Emergency Escape Plan for Domestic Violence Situations

    This guide provides a step-by-step plan for individuals preparing to leave an abusive domestic situation, including safety measures, essential items to gather, and resources for support.

  • Navigating the Family Court System for Survivors of Abuse

    This guide offers practical advice and resources for survivors of abuse navigating the family court system in Ontario. It covers topics such as legal rights, safety planning, obtaining legal aid, mediation, and dealing with court procedures.

  • Financial Assistance for Survivors of Abuse in Halton

    This resource outlines various financial assistance programs available to survivors of abuse in Halton, including emergency funds, income support, housing benefits, and legal aid. It also provides contact information and eligibility requirements for each program

  • Financial Assistance Plan for Survivors of Domestic Violence

    This resource outlines various financial assistance programs available to survivors of domestic violence in Halton, including emergency funds from the Victim Quick Response Program, income support through Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, housing benefits from Halton Housing, and legal aid from the Community Legal Clinic. It also provides information on food banks, credit counseling, and programs for children's sports.

  • Forms of Abuse

    This document details various forms of abuse that can occur in relationships, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and technological abuse. It also includes information on gaslighting and the misuse of legal processes as forms of abuse. The document provides a tool, the Power & Control Wheel, to help individuals identify and understand the different tactics used by abusers to maintain power and control in relationships.

  • General Safety Tips for Individuals at Risk

    This guide offers practical safety tips for individuals at risk, covering various situations such as work, public spaces, transportation, and home. It emphasizes awareness, preparedness, and proactive measures to enhance personal safety.

  • Halton Resources: A Guide for Support Services

    This comprehensive directory offers contact information for various support services in Halton, including emergency hotlines, counseling services, financial assistance programs, housing resources, children's services, and health services.

  • Health Concerns Associated with Abuse and Violence

    This document explores the physical and mental health consequences of experiencing abuse and violence, including impacts on pregnancy, brain injury, and strangulation. It lists various symptoms and encourages seeking professional help.

  • Honour and Shame Based Violence

    This document provides information on honour and shame-based violence, including risk factors, perpetrator rationales, and differences between this type of violence and domestic violence. It also offers guidance for professionals on how to support victims and assess their safety.

  • Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

    This resource provides information on the realities of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Ontario, particularly targeting vulnerable populations. It details the tactics used by traffickers, the rights of survivors, and steps to take when leaving or after exiting a trafficking situation, along with a list of resources for support.

  • Immigrants and Refugees: Rights and Resources in Domestic Violence Situations

    This document outlines the rights and resources available to immigrants and refugees in Canada who are experiencing domestic violence, regardless of their legal status. It provides information on immigration rights, legal aid, and support services, emphasizing that everyone has the right to safety and protection from abuse.

  • Safety Planning Booklet Inventory and Instructions

    This document provides an inventory of safety planning inserts for individuals experiencing abuse or violence, along with instructions on how to use the inserts effectively. It emphasizes the importance of safety planning and acknowledges the contributions of various organizations and individuals in creating the resource.

  • Safety Planning for Domestic Violence Survivors in Rural Areas

    This document addresses the unique challenges and safety considerations for individuals experiencing domestic violence in rural areas. It offers guidance on accessing support services, creating safety plans, and navigating the specific barriers that rural survivors may face.

  • Safety Planning for People with Disabilities in Abusive Relationships

    This document explores the connection between mental health and intimate partner violence, offering coping mechanisms and resources for individuals experiencing mental health challenges due to abuse.

  • Red Flags and Green Flags in Relationships

    This document provides a checklist of red flags (warning signs) and green flags (positive signs) in relationships to help individuals assess the health and safety of their partnerships.

  • Safety Features and Equipment for Your Home

    This document provides information and recommendations on various safety features and equipment that can be installed in a home to enhance security and protect against intruders. It covers topics such as door locks, door frames, patio doors, windows, and additional home safety tips.

  • Safety for Older Adults

    This resource offers safety advice for older adults at risk of abuse, including tips for safety at home, in the community, and online. It also provides contact information for various support services.

  • Safety Planning with Your Child/Children

    This resource provides guidance for parents and caregivers on how to create a safety plan with their children in situations of domestic violence. It includes tips on teaching children about the unacceptability of violence, identifying safe spaces and trusted adults, and practicing emergency procedures.

  • Safety Planning with Indigenous Women: Safeguarding Our Women

    This comprehensive guide offers culturally relevant safety planning strategies for Indigenous women experiencing violence. It covers various scenarios, including during a violent incident, preparing to leave an abusive relationship, and safety planning at home, work, and in public. It also addresses overall wellness, harm reduction, and technology safety, while providing best practices for organizations supporting Indigenous women.

  • Information Guide for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault

    This guide provides comprehensive information and resources for victims/survivors of sexual assault, covering topics such as defining sexual assault, legal options, the investigation and court process, coping strategies, financial assistance, and available support services in Halton Region.

  • Student Safety Plan

    Young women between the ages of 15-24 years experience higher rates of victimization than any other age group of women, including being most at risk of lethal violence.

  • Technology & Social Media Safety for Survivors of Abuse

    This document provides practical advice on using technology and social media safely for individuals who have experienced domestic violence or sexual violence. It covers topics such as changing passwords, adjusting privacy settings, and being aware of location tracking and spyware. It also suggests helpful apps and devices for enhancing personal safety.

  • Using Drugs and/or Alcohol: Safety Considerations for Individuals Experiencing Violence and Abuse

    This document provides guidance and safety tips for individuals who are using drugs or alcohol and experiencing violence or abuse. It emphasizes the importance of reducing or stopping substance use, seeking support, and prioritizing safety in potentially dangerous situations.

  • Victim's Bill of Rights: Bill C-132

    This document outlines the rights of victims of crime in Canada, as established by the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. It details the rights to information, protection, participation, and restitution, as well as the principles of justice for victims, which emphasize fair treatment, respect, privacy, and safety.

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