Abused women without legal status and their advocates are relieved the province will now allow easier access to income assistance. They say the move will prevent experiencing years of emotional and physical stress.
Premier Christy Clark announced Monday that mothers without legal status in Canada who are leaving violent relationships but unable to leave the country with their children can now access income assistance in British Columbia.
This means that women who are living in this situation, whose children are also experiencing or witnessing abuse will feel that they are able to leave situations, they wont have to endure it anymore, said Lisa Rupert, the YWCAs associate director of housing and manager of Munroe House.
Denise, an immigrant from Asia whose last name cant be revealed for safety reasons, stayed with her emotionally and physically abusive husband for eight years before her church helped her flee with her two children. She was isolated and unaware of the organizations that could help her.
Her husband hadnt applied for her permanent residency, which deprived Denise the ability to receive financial assistance or work legally. She had no means to buy food or pay for shelter for her and her kids.
She applied for income assistance when she left her husband in January 2010 but her request was denied.
The three initially stayed at a friends home but Denises husband discovered their location and the situation became unsafe. She and her children then bounced between transition houses and shelters for nine months.
We feel so stressed, because my kids cry, cry, cry, How come we have no space to go? said Denise.
Finally, space opened up for the family at the YWCA Metro Vancouvers Munroe House, the only second-stage housing that offers free or fully subsidized spots for women fleeing abuse.
Denise was encouraged to reapply for income assistance in September 2010 and her request was approved. Then the Ministry of Social Development said the approval had been a mistake. Finally, in December 2010, almost a year after Denise had left her home, the ministry made an exception and approved her income assistance.
It really put her life on hold not being on income assistance because every day youre worried about subsistence, about keeping a roof over your head, about keeping food in your childrens mouths, said Rupert. Her [13-year-old] son still deeply feels the impact of all of those moves. The final move out of the transition house, even, was much more traumatic even though he knew he was going to a permanent place, again uprooted, losing the friends at school.
Getting income assistance means you qualify for subsidized housing through B.C. Housing, so thats also very important, Rupert added.
Denise says women in her situation also need medical coverage.
The YWCA had been pestering the province to change access to income assistance since 2010. Now it plans to petition Citizenship and Immigration Canada to fast-track permanent residency applications of mothers without status and to provide them with temporary residency, which would allow them to work, receive child tax and universal childcare benefits. It can take one to two years for temporary residence to be approved in principle, allowing her to work.
West Coast LEAF Womens Legal Education and Action Fund wants the provincial government to also give childless women who lack legal status in Canada and are fleeing abusive relationships access to income assistance.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
