Moose Jaw Transition House's Emergency Outreach
Tammy McCleary, Moose Jaw Transition House Emergency Outreach Worker
The Moose Jaw Transition House was one of 34 recipients of the Emergency Response Fund for Community Needs. In an average year, the organization supports more than 100 women and children through its shelter. Unfortunately, during times of crisis, domestic violence escalates. Factors such as stress, isolation, and job loss are known to perpetrate violence in the home.
Jenn Angus, Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Transition House, says the funds received increased the organization’s capacity for dealing with these issues.
Expecting domestic violence rates to go up, the funds enabled the hiring of their Emergency Outreach Worker, Tammy McCleary, for one year. Tammy’s role was to manage an increase in shelter use. However, despite higher rates of domestic violence, the volume of women calling the shelter decreased.
“This was cause for concern as it was suspected that those who needed to use their services were not comfortable accessing the shelter during the pandemic,” says Angus. “As a result, Tammy’s role was shifted to provide direct outreach to women and families and reach them where they were. Tammy helped secure immediate safety, housing, crisis support, and food security to those who needed it.”
Tammy reached approximately 250 women with her work, including more than 40 expecting mothers, 90 seniors, and 70 newcomers.
“The funds were pivotal,” says Angus. “People were reached where they were at and given access to and knowledge of our services. With this assistance, community members were more aware and knowledgeable about how to be safe.”
“These are the things that we felt we wouldn’t have been able to do without the Emergency Response funding,” she adds. “They wouldn’t have known that they could reach out. This program was essential to reach all of these families and women in need who may have been neglected or not realized they could use the service at all. They now have a stronger, healthier social support network and can identify the social ties that provide support when needed.”
“The work that SSCF does to support Saskatchewan and our communities is outstanding,” says Angus. “How quickly they rallied to make these funds available was incredible. It shows how much SSCF does for Saskatchewan communities and how much they care about communities in this province. You don’t see that every day. I want to thank the donors and the SSCF for supporting over 250 individuals in our community through this pandemic.”
