Transition & Family Court Support – Peterborough

COVID-19 Update: YWCA Peterborough Haliburton support and crisis services for women who experience violence are still available. Crossroads Shelter, HERS – Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace and our 24 Hour Support & Crisis Line remain open.

While our offices are closed to the public to help flatten the curve, our support teams are working remotely and will continue to provide assistance by phone, text and email during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm). View our full update here.

We’re here to listen, to help a woman see her own strength and to provide resources that will help her find safer ways of moving forward in her life.

Transition Support

We offer free, confidential support to women who are fleeing abuse or are concerned about the health of their relationship:

  • support by phone or in person with flexible meeting arrangements at safe locations throughout Haliburton County
  • safety assessment and risk management
  • accompaniment Court Support for Criminal and Family Court matters
  • accompaniment to appointments and case conferences
  • housing information (rent-geared-to-income/social housing, market rent and referrals to Homelessness Coordination Response team – HCRT)
  • transportation to appointments
  • emergency transportation to safety
  • support and information about navigating systems such as: Ontario Works and Ontario Disability, Family Court and Criminal Court, and Children’s Aid Society
  • information to help women understand the effects of violence and trauma on themselves and their children

Family Court Support

We provide free, confidential court support to women who are making their way through Family Court and are living in, are leaving, or have left an abusive situation:

  • safety planning to help keep you and your children safe
  • an overview of the family court process
  • assistance with applying for Legal Aid
  • help finding a lawyer
  • support with completing family court documents, including affidavits
  • help preparing for lawyer appointments and court proceedings
  • accompaniment to court
  • information and referrals to other services
  • we provide Family Law support related to: Custody and Access, Child and Spousal Support, Separation and Divorce, Child Welfare (CAS), Restraining Orders

Our programs rely on donor funding for their operation. As government and other agency funding is decreasing, the demand for our services is increasing. To find out more about how you can help bridge this gap and change the lives of countless women and children in our communities, please contact us.