WOMEN IN REFUGES (FROM VIOLENCE AND THE FAMILY, 1978, BY J P MARTIN - SEE NCJ-54634)

• NCJ Number: 54645
• Author(s): J MELVILLE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: John Wiley and Sons
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF REFUGES FOR BATTERED WIVES IN ENGLAND IS PRESENTED, LIFE IN A REFUGE IS DESCRIBED, PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF REFUGES IS CONSIDERED.

Abstract

UNTIL REFUGES FOR BATTERED WIVES WERE FIRST ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 1970'S IN ENGLAND, ABUSED WIVES, PARTICULARLY POOR WOMEN, HAD NO PUBLIC PROVISION FOR IMMEDIATE SHELTER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN UPON LEAVING THEIR HUSBANDS. BY THE END OF 1976, OVER 100 REFUGES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN BRITAIN. THE MOVEMENT WAS BEGUN BY A PRIVATE CITIZEN WHO ESTABLISHED A REFUGE IN CHISWICK. FROM THIS LOCAL MOVEMENT, A NATIONAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION WAS FORMED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO LOCAL WOMEN'S AID GROUPS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING REFUGES. FUNDING FOR LOCAL REFUGES GENERALLY COMES FROM LOCAL SOURCES, WITH EACH REFUGE HAVING VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS IN RAISING FINANCES, DEPENDING PRIMARILY ON THE ATTITUDES OF LOCAL POLITICIANS AND SOCIAL AGENCY PERSONNEL. FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH A PROGRAM WHEREBY THE HOME OFFICE'S URBAN PROGRAM PAYS 75 PERCENT OF THE COST OF AN APPROVED PROJECT FOR A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS, PROVIDED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAYS THE OTHER 25 PERCENT. BY THE END OF 1976, 37 PROJECTS HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR GRANTS. THE REFUGES ARE GENERALLY OVERCROWDED AND IN POOR PHYSICAL CONDITION. REFUGE RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE SELF-RELIANT AND SELF-GOVERNING AS A GROUP DURING THEIR STAY. IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE WOMEN, THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER BATTERED WIVES AT THE REFUGE, GAIN NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ENABLE THEM TO MAKE REASONABLE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TRYING TO KEEP REFUGE LOCATIONS SECRET FROM HUSBANDS OF RESIDENTS ARE DISCUSSED. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABUSING HUSBANDS ARE BRIEFLY CONSIDERED, BASED ON THE TESTIMONY OF REFUGE RESIDENTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF REFUGES, A 'STAGE-TWO' HOUSE IS ALSO NEEDED, WHERE TWO OR THREE FAMILIES COULD STAY AFTER MOVING ON FROM THE REFUGE, UNTIL MORE PERMANENT HOUSING BECAME AVAILABLE. (RCB)