Our speaker today was Nancy Smith, Executive Director of Interval House. Nancy was accompanied by Sadie Wolfe and was introduced by Mary Lou Emmett.
Interval House provides a shelter for abused women and focusses their programs on gender based violence. Last year they celebrated their 30th year in operation and is the only non faith-based shelter in Hamilton. Additional information about Interval House can be viewed on their website: https://intervalhousehamilton.org/
Services offered by Interval House:
- 24 hour Crisis Line : 905-387-8881
- Emergency shelter: available 24 hours a day, seven days a week that includes all meals, emergency clothing and personal needs all at no cost to the client
- Safety Planning & Threat Assessment / Risk Management
- How to find Housing
- How to gain Financial Support & Employment
- Outreach Transitional Services: An outreach counsellor can work with women living in the community who are thinking of leaving, needing support, have left and are living in the community
- Counselling Programs: (individual and / or group)
- Women Centre of Hamilton
Jared's Place Legal Advocacy Services: Our legal support counsellor can assist with criminal, family and immigration, civil issues affecting abused women
Heroes Group Resliency Program for youth
Education, Awareness, Research and Advocacy
Community Referrals. In a new program called Mentor Action: http://mentoraction.org/who-we-are/, Interval House is working with the Hamilton Bulldogs and McMaster athletics on a program of videos of men talking to men about gendered violence
Nancy left us with their 2016/17 Annual Report. Copies can be downloaded from this web page: https://intervalhousehamilton.org/history-of-interval-house
Nancy was thanked by Ross Longbottom and given a cheque for $500 from our club by Jessica to support the work of Interval House.