Many women end up on the street because of trauma in their backgrounds. Often that trauma has come at the hands of men in their lives. Because of this, they can be hesitant to go to a shelter like Warmland House in Duncan that caters to both men and women. They do not feel safe there to avail themselves of the opportunities and amenities, so they are left out in the cold.
The sad fact is that once on the street, women are also extremely vulnerable to further violence and abuse. These women need somewhere to go, at least when the rest of us are listening to torrents of rain hit the roofs above our heads, or are peering out at the frost crystallizing on every available outdoor surface.
In the absence of more permanent housing options for these folks we’re left with the idea of at least providing a place they can feel relatively safe to get out of the worst of the elements at night.
A temporary shelter for women had been proposed for 540 Cairnsmore St. in Duncan and was met with the usual combination of distaste and fear, along with some welcome. Everybody thinks a shelter specifically for women is a good idea, but few want it in their neighbourhood. Concerns range from drug paraphernalia littering the area, to risks to seniors and children, though it’s unclear what exactly people are afraid will happen to members of these vulnerable groups if they are in proximity to homeless women.
On Monday night, Duncan council scrapped the idea.
There were not going to be hordes of women descending on the area. Fortunately, there are just not that many women in this area who need it. But for those that do, as a community, we need to have compassion and a place for them. The City of Duncan proposed strict conditions for opening, including security and screening the intake areas from public view.
Ideally, this was a chance to help these women better their situation. Provide a little respite from the cold winter streets. There is no perfect place for a shelter, nor is there a magical solution to make homelessness in Duncan just disappear. If not on Cairnsmore Street, then where?
