There had been multiple incidents of violence in their home...
Mila fled to the Collingwood area from British Columbia, trying to find a safe place away from her husband who had been abusing her for years. She had been a stay-at-home wife, with very little freedom to leave the house or do anything for herself. She had been unable to have children and this created great tension between her and her husband for years. She was expected to maintain all aspects of their home, keeping it spotless each day. She washed and prepared her husband’s clothes for work, cooked every meal (which often wasn’t what he wanted or liked), all while he dictated where she could go and who she could see.
There had been multiple incidents of violence in their home – hair pulling, slamming his hand on the walls or counters, squeezing her face and mouth hard when he didn’t like what she had to say, or even covering her mouth entirely. He had slammed her hand in the bathroom door in the past, squeezed her wrists and held them behind her back, and even spit at her. One night, he even locked her out of the house and she spent the night in the backyard because he didn’t like how late she stayed out. He was jealous and wouldn’t allow Mila to go out with friends or do anything social without him. She had turned to alcohol to cope with her loneliness, starting with a few drinks in the evening to put herself to sleep. Over the course of a year, her alcohol use had increased dramatically as her unhappiness increased as well. She had somehow moved to drinking vodka as soon as her husband left the house, and would sleep away many afternoons.
With the encouragement of a friend, and knowing she needed better for her life, Mila planned her escape. She snuck away while her husband was at work and flew to Ontario, trying to settle in Collingwood where she had a cousin whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Most of her family was still overseas and she didn’t have much of a support system here. Unfortunately, once she arrived, her housing opportunity had fallen through, and she was left homeless in a new place, feeling very scared and alone – and now completely dependent upon alcohol.
After a quick Google search of “women’s shelters in Collingwood”, she came across My Friend’s House. She called their Crisis Line and was extremely lucky that they happened to have space for her the following day after a discharge the night before. This is rare, as women are staying at My Friend’s House for much longer these days, due to a lack of affordable housing. She paid cash to stay in a motel that night and arrived at My Friend’s House the next day.
She felt safe and secure and more confident in her abilities to survive on her own.
Mila stayed at My Friend’s House for eight weeks and really committed to the supports that were offered to her. She worked through her addiction with their Wellness Coordinator who connected her with an additional support group. She shared her fears and anxieties with their Therapeutic Counsellor and worked to build her self-worth. Their Transition Coordinator helped her through the legalities of filing for divorce and helped her realize the skill sets she had for potential employment. The team at My Friend’s House stabilized Mila in a way she hadn’t felt in years. She felt safe and secure and more confident in her abilities to survive on her own.
An opportunity came about for Mila to live in the staff housing quarters of a local resort. This gave her her own room in a beautiful place near the water, with all she would need to be on her own. Needing to make her own money, she even interviewed for a job there and was quickly hired as a housekeeper at the hotel. She was able to connect with other staff members and make new friendships with other women who worked there, while still keeping in touch for counselling and support from the team at My Friend’s House.