Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Donelle, Lorie
Abstract
This dissertation examines the complex information journeys of women residing in second-stage shelters in Alberta, Canada, with a focus on understanding their evolving needs for support, services, and information. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive global issue, deeply rooted in structural inequalities, and significantly affects women's safety, health, and independence, and the well-being of their children. While emergency shelters provide immediate relief, second-stage shelters offer longer-term housing and support; however little is known about the specific information needs of women in these transitional spaces. Using a grounded theory approach and guided by a feminist perspective, this study explored how women residing in second-stage shelters understood and navigated the interconnected systems of legal, financial, housing, and social support services relevant to their needs. Twenty women who had or were living in second-stage shelters were interviewed. Analysis of interviews identified key themes around women’s information and system navigation journeys including barriers to entry into services, the "full-time job" of navigating support systems, tensions between individual needs and shelter policies, and the shared wisdom among shelter residents. Based on these themes, the resultant grounded theory was navigating the maze of unknowns. These findings highlight the need for integrated, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approaches in policy and practice to enhance survivors’ access to information, services, and supports, offered in a respectful manner that balances women’s unique need for safety while enhancing their independence. By fostering a sense of community and tailored support, second-stage shelters can better support women to rebuild their lives and facilitate long-term safety and stability. This work contributes to the broader discourse on IPV by illuminating the intersections of personal experiences, structural violence, and systemic inequities, providing actionable insights for improving shelter systems and supporting survivors of IPV.
Summary for Lay Audience
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of women and their children globally and poses a significant challenge to their safety and well-being. In Canada, where over 40% of women report lifetime experiences of IPV, women who have experienced violence may seek refuge in short-term emergency shelters to escape abuse. Second-stage or transitional shelters, when available, offer longer-term housing and support, allowing women time to stabilize and regain independence. However, women in these shelters face numerous challenges as they navigate complex systems to access the legal, financial, and social services that they need to rebuild their lives, often with children in their care.
This research focuses on understanding how women in second-stage shelters in Alberta, Canada, find and use the information they need to make decisions about their lives. The study explores the difficulties women face in accessing support systems, such as knowing when and how to enter a second-stage shelter, legal aid, housing, and financial assistance, when residing in second stage shelters. Women in these shelters are often required to engage with disconnected systems that each have different policies and processes, making it harder to get the help they need. Additionally, services often perpetuate inequities based on gender, racialization, income, and other social factors, this often means that many women who have experienced violence are unable to navigate second-stage shelters (e.g., if digital access is required) or face stigma and discrimination when they do.
By interviewing women in second-stage shelters, this research uncovers the ways they search for information to meet their needs, and the obstacles they encounter. It highlights the importance of providing clearer, more accessible services and integrating support systems to reduce the burden on women. The findings also emphasize the need for shelters to offer tailored support for structurally marginalized groups, especially those facing stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination.
Ultimately, this research aims to improve the services and supports available to women in second-stage shelters, ensuring that the journeys though second-stage shelters given women what they need.
Recommended Citation
Rempel, Ebony, "The Maze: Understanding Information Journeys of Women in Second-stage shelters" (2025). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10825.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10825