Residential Services
What can I expect?
- To meet with a worker on a daily basis during the week
- To have access to the 24-hour crisis line after these hours
- To have access to emergency clothing and food when you are admitted
- To be made aware of your rights as a client of CWR
- To have access to a safe place
- To have the offer of ongoing support when you leave
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why so confidential?
It's really important for your safety and the safety of others that the address of the house is kept confidential, this is so your ex or current abuser cannot find you. We won't tell you were the house is over the phone we will meet you somewhere first just in case you change your mind about staying with us. - How will I get to the house if I don't have transport?
We can help with this, we provide transport for you to get to the house, if we have to come into the home and the abuser is still around we may take the police. - How much does it cost?
We ask for a donation of $12 per night per adult and $ 1 per night per child, this of course is only if you can afford it, most women will pay us back at $5 per week after they have left the house. - How many times can I go back?
We don't have a limit on the amount of times you come to us, we understand that the nature of domestic violence is such that it can take many times before someone feels comfortable to leave their relationship for good. Also, we know that leaving an abusive relationship doesn't stop you from being stalked and harassed. - If I go back to my abusive partner does that mean I can't come back?
No. You are able to return to the safehouse as many times as you need to. - Don't you have to be physically beaten to stay in a safe house?
No, domestic violence is more than physical abuse, you can be emotionally and psychologically abused and be unsafe, you may fear for your children's safety but not your own you can come in under these circumstances too.
Christchurch Women’s Refuge provides 24-hours access to a Safe House for women and children requiring immediate safety from family violence or the risk of family violence. The Safe House can accommodate five families at any one time and has communal living arrangements.
A comprehensive assessment of the client’s suitability and safety requirements is undertaken on the crisis/support phone line by a trained Family Support Worker and arrangements made to get a family to safety if that is appropriate.
Because the Safe House offers shared living facilities there are rare occasions where an individual cannot be taken into our residential support; this is because there may be alcohol/drug issues, unmanaged mental health issues, or their own issues of violence. However, they would be referred to an appropriate agency and/or safe accommodation outside the Safe House arranged for them.
During office hours (9am – 5pm) a Family Support worker is available to assist at the Safe House and they are responsible for the ongoing contact with mothers and children. Between 5pm – 9am Monday – Friday and 24 hours on weekends it is staffed by paid and trained part-time Residential Support Workers.
During the period 1st July 2009 to 30th June 2010 our Residential Safe House accommodated 81 women and 91 children for a total of 2270 bednights.