How to Get Help

Women & Children’s Emergency shelter in Winnipeg

Willow Place services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour Crisis Line:

24-hour Crisis Line

204-615-0311 or 1-877-977-0007

Our Services

What We Offer and What You Can Expect

What we offer:

Staff will meet with you daily and provide:
Counselling, support, information and education around domestic abuse.
Safety planning
POD (Protection Order Designates) assist with the preparation of Protection Orders
Contact with community supports
Contact with Legal Aid
Contact with Manitoba Housing
Assist with establishing Provincial Assistance (EI&A) if required

What you can expect:

Protective housing, with a private confidential address
Services are at no charge to you
Shared living with other women with similar experiences
Meals & snacks provided
Clean bed, linens and towels
On site laundry facilities
Counselling 24/7
1-1 counselling Support groups
Legal Aid
Resources
Information on domestic/family violence

Violence is Not Okay

Everyone has the right to be safe

Common Abusive Behaviour

If you are experiencing a family member or a partner living in your home, who does the following, please seek help:

Makes me feel afraid
Is possessive
Is always “checking up” on me
Is sexually demanding
Teases, bullies and puts me down
Gets violent, loses temper quickly
Tries to control me
Keeps me from seeing my friends and family
Makes all the decisions
Hits me
Takes my money and other things
Always blames me
Threatens to leave if I don’t do what I’m told

The Many Forms of Abuse

Violence and abuse may occur only once, can involve various tactics of subtle manipulation or may occur frequently while escalating over a period of months or years. In any form, violence and abuse profoundly affect individual health and well-being.

There are nine distinct forms of violence and abuse:

Physical violence;
Sexual violence;
Emotional violence;
Psychological violence;
Spiritual violence;
Cultural violence;
Verbal Abuse;
Financial Abuse; and,
Neglect

The Cycle of Abuse

The Distinct Patterns of Abusive Relationships

Most abusive relationships display a distinct pattern, known as the Cycle of Abuse or Violence. Abuse is rarely constant but alternates between: tension building, acting out, the honeymoon period and calm.

Not all relationships follow the same cycle, and individual experiences vary, some stages – especially the honeymoon or calm periods, may shorten or be left out completely, especially as the abuse intensifies over a period of time.

Each stage of the cycle can last from a few minutes to a number of months, but within an abusive relationship, the following stages can often be pin-pointed:

Tension Building

Tension starts and steadily builds
Abuser starts to get angry
Communication breaks down
Victim feels the need to concede to the abuser
Tension becomes too much
Victim feels uneasy and a need to watch every move

Explosion

Any type of abuse occurs
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Or other forms of abuse as found in the power and control wheel.

Honeymooon

Abuser apologizes for abuse, some beg forgiveness or show sorrows
Abuser may promise it will never happen again
Blames victim for provoking the abuse or denies abuse occurred
Minimizing, denying or claiming the abuse wasn’t as bad as victim claims
Abuses slow or stop
Abuser acts like the abuse never happened
Promises made during honeymoon stage may be met
Abuser may give gifts to victim
Victim believes or wants to believe the abuse is over or the abuser will change

Abuse is not about you, or something you did wrong. It’s about controlling you! If you recognize these signs, you or someone you know, may be a victim of abuse. You are not alone.

Call the Crisis line for Counselling and Support for help now!

24-hour Crisis Line

204-615-0311 or 1-877-977-0007

Not Looking for Shelter?

Even if you’re not ready or looking for shelter, Willow Place can still help. We offer:

24-hour Crisis Line • 1-1 Scheduled Counselling • Support Groups • Follow-up services