Organizational Information:

Victoria Women's Transition House Society has a vision of a community free of relationship violence and abuse. The society works collaboratively to provide shelter, support, counselling and education to women of all ages, with or without children, so that they can live free from the effects of abuse in intimate relationships. The Society strives to prevent and eliminate abuse through education, advocacy and partnerships. The Victoria Women's Transition House operates a 24 hour crisis line, a short term stay emergency shelter, a longer term stay transitional housing option, and provides community education and prevention programs to increase awareness of the issue of violence against women. On average, direct service is provided to over 2,000 women and children each year, in addition to receiving over 1,700 calls on the crisis line.

Program Description:

The Rainbow Project is an asset building and financial literacy project for women in Harrison Place, a transitional apartment house with a maximum three year stay. Affordable rental housing in Victoria is scarce and the challenge is to ensure women who move from Harrison Place transition to safe, secure housing. The project will assist up to 15 residents in Harrison Place to achieve this goal and develop greater self-sufficiency. Participants will set personal goals, acquire financial knowledge, skills and confidence and develop a wide range of assets.

A critical component of the project is the matched savings opportunities or Individual Development Accounts (IDA) in which each dollar contributed by a participant is matched at a ratio of 3:1. Maximum monthly contributions are $ 50 for a period of 18 months, for a total of $900 with a match of $2700 for a grand total of $3600. Participants are expected to attend 10 financial literacy workshops, and make monthly savings deposits. The match is made available at the project's completion in order to support the participant's self defined goals. Individual support for participants includes a financial assessment and monthly individual financial follow ups as required. Participants set their goals using PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope), a process that results in a clear personal action plan and builds social assets by recruiting a personal support network.

The project is funded by Coast Capital Savings Credit Union Community Investment Fund, Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada, Status of Women Canada, and individual donors to Victoria Women's Transition House Society.

Target Participant Criteria

Participants are low-income single women between the ages of 45 and 65 who live in Harrison Place. They have a history of abuse, instability and most are coming from extremely compromised housing situations.

Program Contact Information:

Name: Joan Feyrer
Phone: 250-592-2927 (local 221)
Email: joanf@vwth.bc.ca
Website: www.transitionhouse.net

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