New transitional home helps Montreal women leaving violent partners get back on their feet

It's been a decade since Siham Benribagueleft herviolent household with her two-month-old son, but she'll never forget the toll the abusive relationship took on her.

"You want to do something, but you're not connected to yourself anymore," she said. "You're just like a body without a life or a soul."

Benribaguewanted better for herself and her son, so she fled the violence and tookrefuge in a women's shelter and, finally, moved into a second-stage home a non-emergency transition housefor people who have left violent domesticenvironments.

She stayed there for two years and credits the home withgiving her the toolsshe needed to move forward in life.

"Ineed help, I need an apartment, Ineed someone to help me to find a lawyer,to come with me to the court sometimes because myfamily was in another country and I had a baby," she said.

"Inthesekinds of houses, we can find support and we can rebuild our lives and rebuild our confidenceand get back to normal life."

Benribague, who became a painter after discovering her passion for the art form while in the home, now sits on the administrative board atNouvelle-tape, a non-profit that officially unveiled its second transitional home on Wednesday for women leaving violent partners.

Maison Galle Fedidais a second-stage shelter withnine units in Montreal. It's named after afierce advocate in the fight against domesticviolence in Quebec, who was killed in a cycling accident in Montreal in July.

Thebuilding housesthree studio apartments as well as six larger places, with more bedroomsforwomen with kids.

Tenants, some of whom have already moved in,will be allowed to stayfor up to two years.

The group managing the project says that time is crucial when it comes to saving lives.

Florence Gagn, a spokesperson for Nouvelle-tape, says studies show a woman is most at risk of violence at the hands of her partner in the first two years after leaving a situation of domestic abuse.

"We actually work a lot towardhomicide prevention," she said."By offering them housing, we offer them a safe place and it's confidential."

The shelter offers a host of specialized services, including those to help immigrant women apply for work permits, visas andrefugee status. Social workers are also on hand to help tenants through specific situations, such as applying for a job or communicating with youth protection services.

The home also provides specialized services and activities for children, many of whom have developmental delays.

"It's not like a 24-hour shelter, they're autonomous," Gagn said. "The goal for us is to [help] those families to get back on their feet and really achieve independence."

Alliance MH2, a network of second-stage shelters in the province,says there still aren't enough spaces to meet demand across the province.

MaudPontel, general co-ordinator at Alliance MH2, says 75 per centof women who apply for second-stage housing in Montreal are refused due to lack of space. In Quebec City, that number is about 56 per cent, she said.

"The main criteria for a woman to be sheltered in a second-stagehome is the evaluation of [how dangerous] her ex partner [is]," Pontel said.

"So if there is a high risk of harm, threats, et cetera, the woman will be accepted."

The network is currentlyworking on about 30 projects, either renovations or new constructions, to meet demand. Funding is provided by all three levels of government.

Alliance MH2 ishopingto triple the number of spaces for women and kids in second-stage housing by 2026.

Meanwhile, atMaison Galle Fedida, Benribague's paintings adorn the walls of some of the apartments as a reminder to new tenants that they too can make it out stronger.

"I really want to have this piece of art in front of these women to tell them that it's possibleand to be in this house is already a big step. It's a very brave step," she said.