Shelter helps woman stay sober, get kids back

WISH Safe House helped her get her children back.

“I came here from the north,” the 42-year-old mother of seven said. “My sister had my kids.”

“I asked my worker from where I’m from to put me in a shelter that was run by native women, because they know and have some experience with what other native women have gone through,” she explained.

Regina’s WISH Safe House offered exactly what she was looking for — a safe place to stay, counselling and support. And aboriginal women run the shelter.

She was with her abuser for 4½ years.

Leaving wasn’t easy. She had to build up her courage.

“I decided to give up my children,” she said. “The reason why I came this way, my sister asked for my children, and she kept them.”

“I came to WISH, and they helped me to get my children back,” she said. “They did lots for me. They had my back.”

WISHstaff helped her stay sober.

There was no crisis shelter in the northern Saskatchewan community in which she lived. Leaving the abusive relationship meant leaving her reserve, and her way of life.

She’d like to go back. But with six of her seven children with her, she admits that will be difficult.

“Housing is very limited on my reserve. I tried for housing,” she said.

Extreme housing shortages, high cost of living, and long distances to the nearest crisis services are a sad reality for women living in northern Saskatchewan.

What’s next? The woman laughed nervously. “I don’t know,” she said, then paused. “Christmas.”

Moments later, she shut down. She was no longer comfortable talking about herself or her experiences. iseiberling@leaderpost.com Twitter.com/ISeiberling

The charities chosen to receive money from this year’s Christmas Cheer Fund are four Regina shelters that provide safety and support for women and children in domestic abuse situations: SOFIA House, Transition House, The YWCA Regina’s Isabel Johnson Shelter and WISH Safe House.

Donations of $10 or more are tax-deductible, with receipts issued in the name of The Leader-Post Foundation.

The Leader-Post and the foundation cover all administrative costs associated with the fund, which means that every cent of your donation will be split among these organizations.

There are several ways to make a donation:

• Online by going to leaderpost. com/cheerfund.

• By dropping off a donation at the reception desk in the front office of the Leader-Post, 1964 Park St., weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

• By mailing a cheque or money order to The LeaderPost Christmas Cheer Fund, Box 1130, Regina, Sask., S4P 3B4. An official donation receipt from the foundation will be mailed to you by the end of the campaign. • By making a donation using a credit card. An ongoing ad in the Leader-Post provides details.

If there is a special story behind your donation, feel free to tell us about it.