by Sandra Thomas, Vancouver Courier, March 27 2002

VANCOUVER RAPE RELIEF and Women's Shelter is bracing for more long-term stays as the province cuts social services, including legal aid.

Typical stays are between three and four weeks, but rape crisis worker Suzanne Jay said staff anticipate having to accommodate women and children for up to six months. That would mean the shelter, which typically houses more than 120 women and children a year, wouldn't be able to accommodate as many people.

Funded by the province, the facility run by eight staff is already crowded—it can hold 10 people at a time, but typically houses 15.

Jay said one client had no citizen status because she was in Canada under her abusive husband's sponsorship. When he beat her and kidnapped their child, the woman became embroiled in a long-term custody battle and ended up staying at the shelter for the duration of the lawsuit. "We expect women like this will no longer be the exception, but rather the norm."

Jay said one of the shelter's biggest concerns is cutbacks to social assistance. Starting April 1l, welfare applicants will have to wait three weeks after they've been deemed eligible to start collecting payments. Yet that time period is crucial to getting women back on their feet.

"It makes women that much more vulnerable. We get phone calls from women whose husbands have just gone out for a business meeting. All they have time to do is grab some diapers and get in a cab. Now they have to wait for welfare? Our job now is to be there for these women. We're going to keep trying to get them affordable house and legal aid."

Bulletin: Rape Crisis Centre NOT closing September 12 2002