How to Get Help

Women & Children’s Emergency shelter in Winnipeg

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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
  • Family violence counselling, support, information and education
  • Safety planning
  • Assistance with the preparation of protection orders
  • Contact with community supports
  • Contact with Legal Aid
  • Support finding housing
  • Assistance with Provincial Assistance (EIA), if required

What you can expect:

  • Protective housing, with a private confidential address
  • Services are at no charge to you
  • Shared living with others experiencing similar challenges
  • All meals and snacks provided
  • Clean bed, linens and towels
  • On-site laundry facilities
  • Counselling 24/7
  • Individual and group supports
  • Legal Aid
  • Resources
  • Information on domestic/family violence

Violence is Not Okay

Everyone has the right to be safe

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Common Abusive Behaviours

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:

  1. Physical violence;
  2. Sexual violence;
  3. Emotional violence;
  4. Psychological violence;
  5. Spiritual violence;
  6. Cultural violence;
  7. Verbal Abuse;
  8. Financial Abuse; and,
  9. Neglect

The Cycle of Abuse

The Distinct Patterns of Abusive Relationships

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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

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