Yellow Brick House wants your help in the fight against domestic violence as it walks to break the silence Nov. 5.
The shelter organization is hosting its annual Break the Silence Walk, raising funds for its school education program. The annual walk shines a light on domestic violence, promoting action and raising awareness.
CEO Lorris Herenda said domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions in Canada after a significant increase nationally over the pandemic.
“We believe that public education is the key component in increasing awareness about the impact of domestic violence in our communities and reducing the tragic statistics,” Herenda said.
The organization hopes to raise $100,000 in this year’s annual fundraiser, which started in 2017. This year’s funding will go to Yellow Brick House’s School for Change program, which runs abuse prevention workshops in schools for grades 6 to 12.
Herenda said the program teaches youth about healthy relationships and proper treatment.
“It’s important for the girls to understand what a healthy interaction with a potential friend or boyfriend would look like,” she said. “It also teaches boys about respectful interactions with their female friends, and also respectful interactions in their relationships, what is appropriate and what is not appropriate.”
Police reported domestic violence has increased nationally for seven consecutive years, according to an October 2022 Statistics Canada report, rising about four per cent between 2019 and 2021. However, many abuse victim shelters reported significant increases in calls for service, with 44 per cent indicating a moderate or greater impact from the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.
As domestic violence spiked with women having more difficulty getting away amid pandemic lockdowns, Herenda said many sought support once restrictions lifted.
“We’ve seen a surge of women contacting our crisis line and taking out our services, either our shelter services or community counselling,” she said.
Action is needed to assist families and address violence, as well as hold perpetrators to account, she said.
But the organization has limited resources, with their shelter space generally full and waitlists for counselling.
“When women are calling for shelter beds, we are unfortunately not able to assist all the families that need it,” she said, but adding that they do work with families to connect them with services or other shelters where space may be available. “Often, many of the shelters are dealing with full capacity.”
York Region declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in September. There were 6,228 incidents reported in York Region in 2022.
Break the Silence Walk takes place during Women's Abuse Prevention Month. Herenda said it is a good time to participate in a purple scarf campaign, showing support for the cause of eradicating domestic violence.
“By coming to our walk and wearing your purple … you are also showing your community that you are part of community and you want a community that does not tolerate violence against women and children,” she said.
The walk will take place Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Andrew's College in Aurora. You can register for the event and donate through the Yellow Brick House website.
