Work of refuge 'appreciated’

Press, 19 August 1978, Page 7

Work of refuge 'appreciated’

A comprehensive report on the Women’s Refuge and on emergency accommodation provided by other organisations in Christchurch has been sent to the DirectorGeneral of Social Welfare by the Department of Social Welfare in Christchurch. The department would now have to recommend to the Government where help could best be given without duplication of services, said Mr C. L. Waters, director of the department in Christchurch. He was replying to a complaint in “The Press” recently by the refuge that any Government aid available seemed likely to go to the emergency accommodation run by the Anglican and Methodist missions. The department was appreciative of the work done at the refuge, as it was of work done by other agencies. The refuge case would be considered on its merits, he said. The Women’s Refuge says it has cramped, inadequate accommodation in Sydenham. Its organisers say they are despairing about getting suitable housing to provide shelter for the many women and children who seek refuge from violent marriages. The present house is frequently over-crowded. A senior social worker had visited the refuge centre in July. Mrs Sue Givnan, the centre's secretary, told “The Press” the organisers had not been told the reason for

the visit. However, Mr Walker said he had been' assured by the social worker that the women had been told the purpose of the visit. Mrs Givnan denied this. “We were told that this was just a routine check, part of surveys of facilities in the city done regularly by the department,” she said. . When the women had pressed for more details about why the survey was being done, they were given only “vague hints” that the department was considering recommending Government assistance. “We sensed that the outcome could be important to us, but we were not told anything specific. We still have not had official word from the department,” Mrs Givnan said.