Our Programs
When Jennifer made the courageous decision to leave the violence behind she needed to act quickly. She and her young son Michael left with just the clothes they were wearing and the few personal effects that happened to be in the car.
She was amazed to find how supportive the community was at every stage of the journey that followed.
They found a safe haven at a local transition house. Her counselor there gave her a gift certificate for the WIN store so she could shop for some clothing and pajamas for her and Michael during their stay at the shelter. She was even able to get him some toys, as all of his had been left behind at the home they would not be returning to.
After a period of respite Jennifer found housing, and while she was excited about starting fresh the new place was bare and felt empty. They didn’t have any furniture, linens, or even dishes.
Jennifer was referred to the WIN New Start program, and soon a wonderful thing happened: the WIN truck showed up carrying all the furniture, beds, linens, kitchenware and other household basics that she and Michael needed. Jennifer felt a profound sense of inclusion, support and hope as she unpacked the boxes, arranged the furniture and made their new house into a home.
Although the worst was behind her, Jennifer was facing major challenges as a newly single parent. When we checked in with her three months after her move, her food budget was stretched thin even though she was working two jobs. The stress of making ends meet on her own was weighing on her and she wasn’t able to spend as much time with Michael as they both needed and deserved. She had previously completed schooling in the health care field, but before she could attain a position with better pay and health benefits she need to complete one last course.
Jennifer joined the WIN Community Kitchen, where she learned about the WIN Self-Sufficiency Program. She applied, and was soon awarded funds to cover the work-related expenses that were the key to her moving forward in her new life as a self-sufficient woman. Today, Jennifer is gainfully employed, spending lots of time with Michael, and excited about their future.
Jennifer is a character who represents the approximately one thousand women who the Victoria Women In Need Community Cooperative supports every year, thanks to the generosity of the community.
WIN works directly with the Victoria area transition houses and second-stage housing projects, along with many other community organizations that support women’s self-sufficiency. We support our partners by providing their clients with access to our programs. These organizations include:
Bridges for Women Society
Victoria Women’s Transition House
The Cridge Transition House
Sooke Transition House
Margaret Laurence House
Burnside Gorge Family Self Sufficiency Program
