THUNDER BAY - An organization that provides services to Indigenous women facing abuse and violence is expanding once again, demonstrating just how many women are in need in the community.
Beendigen Anishnabe Women’s Crisis Home and Family Healing Agency officially opened its fourth location in the city of Thunder Bay on Thursday.
“There is a definite need for these services in the city,” said Debra Vermette, Beendigen executive director. “As we all know, the Indigenous population is migrating to Thunder Bay and with it comes a lot of the issues that come from colonization and residential schools, so there is a need for healing.”
The new office is located in Victoriaville Mall. Other locations include an office on Ontario Street, Luci Court, and on Fort William First Nation.
The new space will house the Healing Our Own Counselling Unit and the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Program.
According to Vermette, walk-in counselling was available previously, but the new space will offer the service five days a week.
“There are a lot of clients who need that help right away,” she said. “So they are able to come in and not make an appointment. We did have a small window for walk-in counselling, but it was very small, so this makes it wide open.”
“We needed space and we thought that this was a great time to take our counselling unit and make it stand alone and have its own facility,” Vermette continued.
It will also make accessing these services easier for women and their families. Prior to the expansion, Beendigen was tied with a crisis home and the space was becoming very crowded and some residents and clients were not comfortable with the shared space, which could actually deter people from seeking help.
“They were very happy to be here,” Vermette said of the new space. “It is out, it’s open, and it’s accessible. It’s a great success that they are able to access this.”
The new counselling unit will employ eight people, including administrators and counselors. Vermette said with a growing need for these services, there may be plans for future expansion and they are currently looking at bringing all services under one roof.
“Having these types of agencies in the city are going to help the people,” she said. “They are going to help the women and their children and their families to live life free from violence. We also have programs to help them integrate into the community.”
“There are not a lot of community events going on. We need more. That is how you build community, by bringing people together.”
Beendigen provides services and a safe environment to women facing violence, which includes counselling, group programming, housing, alcohol and drug addiction programs, family court support programs, and nutrition programs.
