New refuge to forsake secrecy

John Kirk-Anderson

CHANGES: Annette Gillespie says the need for safe houses is declining.

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Christchurch Women's Refuge has decided it is time to come out of hiding.

The refuge, for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, has a house in a secret location in the inner-city, as well as a main office tucked away unobtrusively in a city office block.

However, Christchurch refuge manager Annette Gillespie said it was time that changed and they had unveiled ambitious plans for a $10 million project.

"We plan to build a multi-purpose Domestic Violence Prevention Centre with street frontage," she said.

"It will provide a one-stop shop that will house both prevention and emergency services. We no longer have to hide in undisclosed locations out of fear."

Plans have been drawn up for the centre that will include 11 suites for women and their children as well as counselling and education services. It is based on a San Diego model for family-violence centres that have since been extended across the United States.

Gillespie said the need for safe houses was declining as women now reached out for help much earlier and were often given help while they stayed in their relationship and in their own home.

"So it's quite a shift," she said.

"At one time the safe house was the larger part of the business but now community services, education and prevention work with children is what the community is demanding from us and we're responding to that.

"We have led the way since 1973 (when they established the first safe house in the country) and we intend to continue leading the response to family violence."

Gillespie said she did not believe there would be any safety issues with the location of the emergency housing being known.

"It's our experience the nature of family violence is that people don't use violent behaviours in public.

"Family violence is something that happens in private behind closed doors."

The refuge will begin a campaign to raise the funds next year and expects it to take two years to reach the $10 million required to purchase a 2000 sq m inner-city site, build the centre and pay for two years maintenance. It is hoped it will be opened in three years.

Heather Henare, chief executive of the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, said making the safe houses more public meant the community were given responsibility for the safety of women and children in them.

"It's certainly a big step forward and if the refuge, they're all autonomous, thinks it's needed and wanted by the community then it should go ahead," she said.The refuge celebrates its 35th anniversary tonight at the Christchurch Art Gallery.