How long are women allowed to stay in your programs?

Dixon Transition House is intended to be a 30-day stay.

Wenda’s Place, Second Stage Housing, is intended to be up to a two-year stay.

Our Third Stage Housing is intended to be up to a three-year stay.

However, women often stay longer (at the transition house) or shorter (at Second and Third Stage) than intended due to the availability of safe and affordable permanent housing, or lack thereof.

Why do women come? What was going on in their lives?

We serve women and children who are fleeing/at risk of violence or abuse. That violence comes in a variety of forms (often in combination), including physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse. The perpetrators of abuse are the men in their lives, who are most often their intimate partners or other immediate family members.

However, the truth is that the story of “why they come” is far less interesting than the stories of their active resistance and resilience. We believe that it’s important to re-center the narrative around the incredible, resilient women who bravely choose to leave these dangerous situations and then seek a safe life for themselves and their children.

How do women hear about you?

Women find out about us in a number of different ways, including Google, local law enforcement, Victim Services BC, other social services and help lines, or word of mouth. To find out more, read our blog post about how women find out about our programs.

Are there lots of young children staying with you?

Yes, there are often many children staying with us at any given time. Across all our programs, 82% of the women we served last year had children.

The ages of the children ages do vary, though. For example, in 2017, 47% of the children we served were 0-6 years old. In contrast, in 2018, children in that age range made up 35% of the children we served.

Are most women immigrants?

Most of the women we serve are Canadian citizens, whether since birth or more recently. Last year, 57.1% of the women we served at Dixon Transition House were Canadian citizens.

However, our programs and staff reflect the diversity of Canadian culture. For example, we have a multilingual staff. Additionally, women at the transition house are able to request specific items for groceries so that they can cook the food they’re used to cooking. We also work with a variety of different agencies for translation or multicultural needs.

Do women still really need this service? Do people really come to the transition house?

Unfortunately, yes. Last year, we received 2,986 calls for space and turned away 1,493 women and children at risk of violence due to lack of space.

Furthermore, our evaluation and research into our programs shows that Dixon is more than just a bed. In particular, women living in our transitional housing programs create a powerful community for themselves. That community, combined with the services we offer, lifts women up and builds on their resiliency.

What kind of support does Dixon provide?

Housing is often the first step, and it’s vital to the process of rebuilding a life after violence, but we also provide programs and services to sustain women’s success and meet the needs of children.

Specifically, our trained and compassionate staff—such as Women’s Support Workers, Child Support Workers, Housing Outreach Worker, Counsellors—provide unconditional support and advocacy; emotional support; information about other resources; child-minding as much as possible; support with income assistance, legal aid, finding permanent housing after their stay at Dixon; and the list goes on. Above all, we do our best to show women that they are not alone.

If someone I know is experiencing violence, what can I do to help?

Most importantly, be supportive. You can say things like: “You did nothing to deserve this,” “I’m here to support you,” and “You are not alone.”

In our work, we respect the choices women make about their own lives, and you should do the same: those choices might be seeking services like ours, reporting to law enforcement, or even taking no further action beyond sharing with you as a trusted individual.

If you or someone you know is in need of our services, you can always call our 24-hour intake line at our transition house at 604-298-3454. However, if you are in danger, please call 911.

How can I help your organization?

Thank you so much for asking! The generosity and activism of community members like you forms the foundation of Dixon Transition Society.

You can get involved at Dixon by:

You didn’t answer my questions!

Email [email protected] or call 604-433-4191 (during regular business hours).

Frequently asked questions