As the housing crisis deepens, Jade Boucher, one of our Transitional Housing Expansion (THX) program workers, knows firsthand how important it is to secure a safe living space for women trying to break the cycle of violence.
“If you don’t have enough supports in place, or things to look forward to, or different ways to earn an income, it’s unfortunately very easy to happen again,” explains Jade.
The Community Housing team at Nellie’s doesn’t work with women living in our shelter — their focus is on supporting women in the community who are living in unsafe conditions. The team is divided into two programs: the Transitional Housing Support Program (THSP) and the Transitional Housing Expansion program (THX). While both help clients access transitional housing, the latter specifically supports women who are survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking and are navigating mental health challenges.
Earlier this year, Jade met 27-year-old Jenna*, who was referred to our community housing program after fleeing from her trafficker. Having been trafficked since the age of 16, Jenna had no income, no job, and no home, and was currently couch surfing with friends. “Even if someone exits trafficking, it can still very easily happen again — especially if it went on for so long,” says Jade.
Jade got to work right away to find Jenna an apartment. To increase Jenna’s chances of finding a safe home, Jade submitted applications on her behalf to the Special Priority Program (which is only available to people who have been abused or trafficked) in four different regions across Ontario. Getting accepted into a subsidized housing program can often take six to 12 months, but Jenna got lucky — within three months, she had secured a home. Jade explains that several factors contributed to how quickly she found a home: “She’s a single woman without kids and she was open to living anywhere. No matter how far it was, she was applying.”
But Jade’s work didn’t stop when Jenna found a home — in fact, it’s the assistance that our THX team provides beyond housing applications that equips their clients for greater stability and growth. Jade sent resources to Jenna for mental health and sexual assault counselling, as well as free or low-cost activities to help her explore what interests her as an adult.
“Before she was trafficked, Jenna was really into art, so I’ve found art programming near her and online,” explains Jade. “I think therapeutic work isn’t just about seeing a therapist — she’s really enjoying how art is taking her mind off of other worries, and helping her find her sense of self. She told me that it’s like ‘figuring out who I am again.’”
Even though she’s now safely set up in her apartment, Jade and Jenna still talk at least once a week. Recently, Jenna decided that she wants to go to college for social work, so Jade is helping her plan how to complete her high school degree, before she applies to colleges.
“Even once my clients are in housing, I still try to help where I can and set them up with resources, whether that’s family doctors or dentists in their new neighbourhood, or free programming for their kids,” says Jade. “That’s the main thing I stress to these women — you’re not just seeing me once or twice and then you’re on your own. I’m here to explain the process and get you connected.”
*Name changed to protect privacy.