By Lyonel Doherty, Times-Chronicle
This is an update to last week’s story about Desert Sun and SOWINS seeking transitional housing for women in crisis.
Oliver town council is throwing its support in principle behind an initiative to address a crisis impacting vulnerable women and children in the South Okanagan.
Desert Sun Counselling and the South Okanagan Women In Need Society (SOWINS) are collaborating to establish transitional and second stage housing for their female clients.
Desert Sun executive director Marieze Tarr said one program that has unfortunately “become huge” is their Safe Home component, which offers housing to women escaping abusive and violent relationships.
Tarr said since the start of the pandemic, they housed an average of six to 10 women. But that number has grown to eight women and 11 children.
This housing is supposed to be temporary, but Desert Sun is now housing women for three and four months at a time due to the severe lack of safe, affordable, and adequate housing.
Danielle Goulden, executive director of SOWINS, agreed the lack of affordable housing is forcing women to stay in emergency housing for lengthy periods of time.
“There is really no place for them to go. The motels are full, and motels are not affordable.”
Goulden said one woman had to vacate her place (a double bed and a hot plate) because the rent increased from $1,200 to $1,500 a month.
Tarr said it is such a struggle to find transitional housing that it creates a major gap in programming to help these women find independence.
Goulden said the other problem is the influx of people moving to the Okanagan and driving up housing prices. She added the pandemic has also intensified every socio-economic issue that they deal with.
The lack of safe, affordable housing leaves these vulnerable women with no other option but to return to violent and marginalized situations, Goulden pointed out.
Tarr noted they have seen a huge increase in senior women accessing their services. Quite frankly, if an agency doesn’t take them in, they would be homeless or living in unsafe RVs, she stated.
“We see so many women going back to abusive relationships that they left . . . there is nowhere else for them to go.”
Of course, this has a big impact on the children, Tarr pointed out.
She said providing women with safe housing immediately increases their discretionary income and improves their children’s academic success.
Sadly, a lot of senior women must choose between medication and a safe place to live, Tarr said.
“We can break this cycle by giving them second stage housing . . . more women would be able to join the workforce.”
Goulden agreed, saying it is remarkable to see the transformation in women when they are provided safety and security.
“They can breathe. The provision of housing allows women to breathe.”
Tarr asked the Town of Oliver to support the project in principle, adding that Desert Sun and SOWINS need land to build this housing. She noted that BC Housing could potentially provide the funding but has not yet committed to the project.
Goulden said they see this opportunity not only to provide housing but to build an independence program for women in crisis.
Mayor Martin Johansen said the new “situation table” in the South Okanagan has identified the importance of getting children out of high-risk environments.
Tarr said she is a firm believer of early intervention.
“I’m a big supporter of the situation table. It really has opened doors for agencies to work together to come up with solutions for the vulnerable.”
Councillor Aimee Grice said she wholeheartedly supports this housing initiative, adding it’s important for council to be involved by contributing land.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla said she feels very fortunate to have Desert Sun and SOWINS working together in the community. She noted that a few locations for this type of housing could be suitable in the community.
