Women's Refuges across the country say December has been
busier than usual with many safe houses full and a high
demand for community services.
Christmas was a time when women often strived to keep their
families together and sought community help and advice from
the refuges to allow them to do this, national spokeswoman
Sarah Pomeroy said.
This meant there was not generally a big influx into safe
houses until January/February, but this month many of those
houses had been full in the lead up to Christmas, she told
NZPA.
The biggest increase for refuges had been in community work
and refuges had also received a large number of police
referrals, she said.
"It's extremely busy. [Refuges] were saying they were very
busy -- busier than usual for December."
A real need for more volunteers arose, as paid workers worked
all day then went onto the crises lines at night, she said.
"Women who are in the safe houses or perhaps working with
refuge in the community are often really, really hurting,
because their families could be disarray, they may not know
where they are going to be able to spend Christmas. Obviously
it's not how they saw their Christmas going for themselves
and their children.
"It's a time when women need a lot of counselling and need a
lot of support... to cope with all those sort of stresses
really."
More women seeking help this year said poverty had been a
factor for them, Ms Pomeroy said.
"We've seen families who are really struggling. Just with all
the effect of a recession, I guess, actually starting to come
through.
"There were families who have really exhausted all their
other resources and they're actually relying on refuge to
help feed their children."
Refuges across the country had also seen a "big drop" in the
number of gifts donated, Ms Pomeroy said.
"The refuges have been sort of having to dig into their own
pockets to help families with food and presents."
She urged people to think about donating any unwanted
Christmas presents to refuge.
Many refuges had also reported an increase in the amount of
young women, aged 16-24, seeking help, many of who had
experienced family violence as children.
"But [the refuges] are saying the positive thing is that they
are coming in with their own children, but they are asking
for help... They want to break the cycle early and are
actually recognising it at a young age.
"That's been quite strong trend."
Exact figures of how many people had used refuge services
this festive season would be compiled over the next few
months, Ms Pomeroy said.
