A new beginning.
Our shelter offers a safe, confidential, and welcoming space for women (and their children) experiencing difficult situations, particularly those related to domestic violence.
Here are the services we offer:
24/7 Shelter
- House open 24/7
- 6 rooms, single or family rooms
- 2 shared bathrooms
- Temporary accommodation offered to all women who have experienced violence or are in difficulty, with or without children
- Women may be referred by another resource (another shelter, a youth centre, social services, the Sûreté du Québec)
- Accommodation requests received are assessed, and women may be redirected to another resource within 48 hours of their arrival.
- For reasons of security and confidentiality, the house rules must be respected at all times.
Psychosocial support
Our qualified counselors provide:
- Compassionate, non-judgmental listening
- Individual support
- Group sessions
- A personalized support plan tailored to your needs
Personalized support
We assist you with your various steps, including:
- Legal (complaints, custody, immigration, etc.)
- Social (housing, financial assistance, school)
- Medical (appointments, mental health, etc.)
Services for children
If you are staying with your children, we offer:
- A warm and reassuring welcome
- Age-appropriate support
- Educational and recreational activities
- Support for the mother-child relationship
Workshops and thematic meetings
To help you regain control of your life, we offer sessions on a variety of topics:
- Self-esteem and assertiveness
- Healthy relationships
- Awareness of rights
- Preparation for independent living
Return to autonomy
We help you to:
- Find housing
- Manage a budget
- Resume your life projects
- Accessing community resources
Post-Shelter Follow-Up
Even after you leave, we remain available for follow-up support for up to 6 months.
Awareness and Advocacy
We also work in prevention through:
- Educational activities in the community
- Partnerships with organizations
- Advocacy for the rights of women and children
Second stage housing
Second-stage housing (MH2) provides women, with or without children, with specialized services addressing post-separation domestic violence through safe, secure transitional housing. Stays may last up to 24 months.
Unlike emergency shelters, which respond to immediate and short-term needs, second-stage housing offers medium-term accommodation designed to ensure the ongoing safety of women and children. This service addresses the continued risk posed by a former intimate partner—a danger that often persists well beyond separation.
Second-stage shelters (MH2) have specialized expertise in post-separation violence, including de-victimization, assessment of partner dangerousness, the impact of domestic violence on children, social reintegration, and the empowerment of women. Admission is based on the level of risk posed by the former partner and requires a referral from a shelter, external support services, or a professional involved in domestic violence intervention. The admission criteria are the dangerousness of the spouse, being referred by a shelter, having external follow-up or being referred by a professional in domestic violence follow-up.
(source : https://www.alliancemh2.org)
Our external services
Our external services provide women living in the MRC of Côte-de-Gaspé who are experiencing domestic or post-separation violence with individualized support tailored to their specific needs.
An initial assessment meeting is held with a designated caseworker, followed by the development of a personalized follow-up plan aimed at fostering autonomy and helping women regain control over their lives. These services also ensure that women feel heard, supported, and accompanied through the challenges they face. External services are available to women who have never stayed in the shelter, as well as to former residents who have not received post-shelter follow-up within the past six months.
Transportation services (taxi) may be offered to residents living within the city of Gaspé. For surrounding areas, we assess the possibility of traveling to meet clients in their own community at a safe location, such as CISSS facilities.