Safe Transitions
Since inception, Piper & Skye has been dedicated to supporting shelters who specialize in housing survivors of domestic abuse, homelessness and human trafficking across Canada and the United States. Our efforts have stayed true to the brand’s DNA, as we believe these vulnerable women and children deserve a fighting chance and need our crucial support, now and in perpetuity.
Over the last few months, we have learned that domestic abuse cases are on significant rise since the pandemic hit. Further, a July 2017 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, lists homicides stemming from intimate partner violence disproportionately affecting young racial and ethnic minority women. The CDC said non-Hispanic African-American women experience the highest rates of homicide, citing 4.4 homicides per 100,000 population, while American Indian/Alaska Native women experienced 4.3 homicides per 100,000 population.’
This is not okay.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we immediately began to work internally, day in and day out, over the past 2 months to bring forth a new project rooted in our dedication to provide support to these vulnerable women and children, providing support for the shelters desperate to help the new incoming emergencies every day.
Today, it is my pleasure to announce the official launch of Safe Transitions – a non-profit organization connecting overrun shelters to vacancies with property management companies in our city. We seek to provide temporary furnished housing to existing residents of the shelters who are ready to begin the transition back into society, thus opening more space in shelters for incoming emergencies.
Our efforts are 2 fold: 1) to help the many women and children who are ready to begin a safe transition back into society with independent housing opportunities using the many condominium and housing contacts we are partnered with, and 2) to open space at these crucially-needed shelters, allowing them to provide the emergency support to the many new cases being reported, especially since the beginning of the pandemic.
This organization is not temporary. Instead it is one we hope to continue in perpetuity, long after COVID-19.
The incredible team at Safe Transitions, myself, and my team at Piper & Skye are committed to helping change the future of these many women and children. We look forward to sharing more information in the weeks and months to come.
Should you be interested in hearing more about our initiative or about supporting Safe Transitions – please visit www.SafeTransitions.co.
With love, hope and strength,
Joanna MacDonaldFounder, Piper & Skye
Founder, Safe Transitions