Set up in
1973, The Haven is a charitable organisation providing safe, emergency
accommodation for homeless women and their dependent children.
The Haven can accommodate up to 29 families with children and
up to 15 single women at any one time.
About 80%
of our residents have left their former address to escape the
violent or abusive behaviour of their husbands or partners.
The
Haven is therefore run as a refuge with considerable emphasis
on security of addresses and confidentiality.
The
Haven is now one of the largest refuges in the country.
Most referrals
come directly from women who are homeless or require help or
support to escape from domestic violence. Referrals also
come from a number of local agencies including:
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To have the power to leave, the power to be gone
To have power to not look back, And have the power to
move on
To have the power to not cry, And the power not to regret
To have the strength to stay strong, And try to forget not to forget
Am I strong for leaving? And finding the will to live
Or am I weak for leaving, With no strength to forgive
Am I selfish and bitter? For putting myself first
Should I have stayed in that routine? That was so daily rehearsed
I felt so loved- but then I felt like dirt
Then I get a scary feeling, do I miss being hurt?
Am I aiming for success? Am I aiming for better days?
Do I miss being loved, Or am I stuck in my ways?
Am I used to being special, with a heart that’s bruised
Am I used to being used, As if I was partly blind
I had glasses with no lens, I found the optician, it was my strength
And whispered bye to my home and friends
The situation got unbearable, I can’t let myself take no
more
So without no banging or slamming, I gently closed the door
A door that’s been open far too long, long too far
Maybe I should have slammed tI, because it still feels ajar
With my strength and my future, My son and my health
I’ll leave that door alone, and let it slowly close itself |
