{"id":25922,"date":"2020-10-27T05:54:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T12:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=25922"},"modified":"2020-12-25T03:21:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T11:21:17","slug":"the-redwood-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/the-redwood-toronto\/","title":{"rendered":"The Redwood Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Abi
Abi Ajibolade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. We unite to support vulnerable members of the community and end domestic abuse through education, advocacy and service. At The Redwood, an emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abuse, every month is domestic violence awareness month. Even through the pandemic, the non-profit works tirelessly to ensure that women and children have the resources that they need to escape their abusers.<\/p>\n

The Redwood offers essential services for women who are courageously leaving abusive relationships. At the site, they receive emergency shelter, meals, crisis intervention, counseling, and educational services for children. They can also access employment assistance, legal advocacy and accompaniment to appointments like court dates where a woman may have to face her abuser.<\/p>\n

Abi Ajibolade is the Executive Director at The Redwood.\u00a0She began with the organization 16 years ago after immigrating to Canada from Nigeria. Her compassion for women experiencing violence prompted her to join The Redwood, but it was the organization\u2019s approach to its mission that made her stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Redwood thinks beyond band-aid solutions and looks to make systemic changes in the community to end gender inequities that perpetuate violence against women,\u201d she says. \u201cThe strategy hasn\u2019t left me disappointed for a single day, since I joined. We live and breathe that vision, that mandate, and that\u2019s what has kept me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steps towards independence bring the greatest risks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s first steps toward freedom are far more perilous than the public and legislators often believe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople think that once they leave an abusive household, everything is fine,\u201d explains Ajibolade as she shakes her head. \u201cThat\u2019s not true. Even the legal system thinks it\u2019s true. It\u2019s not. Leaving the home is a small step. In a way, it exposes her to additional risks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve lost women to femicide after they leave the relationship,\u201d says Ajibolade.<\/p>\n

Per the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a person\u2019s decision to leave an abuser is often met by increased hostility. The violence is directed towards the victim as well as the victim\u2019s loved ones, such as children and family members. In the U.S., about 20% of homicide victims were not the domestic violence victims themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors and other loved ones.<\/p>\n

Learn more about services at The Redwood.<\/a><\/p>\n

Open during the pandemic: courage + compassion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s shelters have faced unique challenges during quarantine due to COVID-19. \u00a0For example, the communal living arrangements at The Redwood, with a shared living room, dining room and homework room, posed risks.<\/p>\n

The Redwood staff came together to make a difficult decision. The Redwood remained open, running at full capacity through this period. The staff has been courageous and taken measures to stay safe and healthy at this time.<\/p>\n

Inside The Redwood, several common areas and service areas were set up with plexiglass shields. Staff members wear masks and respect social distancing protocols. The latter has been especially tough.<\/p>\n

Ajibolade says, \u201c<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We\u2019re mindful of the importance of human connection. I\u2019m the Redwood teddy bear. It\u2019s hard to see a woman who really needs to talk, who wants to be near someone, and you\u2019re standing six feet apart. It\u2019s especially tough when someone is crying. I really wanted to hug the woman, which is what I\u2019d normally do.\u201d Ajibolade sighs, \u201cFor now, I can be a listening ear and let her talk. I can be here for her. It\u2019s a challenging time.\u201d<\/p>\n

She adds, \u201cWe\u2019re all doing the best that we can. The frontline staff here is really courageous.\u201d<\/p>\n

For women who are living in the community, for example isolated at home with the person who is doing them harm, \u00a0The Redwood launched iDetermine.ca, an app that allows women to take a healthy relationship quiz to privately assess the level of danger she may be in, to make an escape plan and to privately reach a Redwood counselor as a lifeline: \u201cWomen can communicate via text and live chat with a Redwood counsellor, 24\/7. There is a surging demand for it,\u201d explains Ajibolade. \u201cIt gives women some discretion when reaching out for support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Community + support<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Redwood never sleeps. The non-governmental organization offers around the clock care for women and children. Community support is vital to saving lives.\u00a0 Prior to the health emergency, The Redwood would offer violence prevention workshops to dozens of organizations in and around Toronto.\u00a0 Now the organization offers webinars to continue to help educate the public on the realities of domestic violence and provide resources to prevent it.<\/p>\n

Yardi is honored to sponsor The Redwood. \u201cYardi\u2019s generous donation is already hard at work! Yardi\u2019s grant has helped us to reduce the impact of the double pandemic of gendered-based violence and COVID-19 on women who come to The Redwood for assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Join Yardi and donate to The Redwood <\/a><\/p>\n

The Redwood distributed grant funds to multiple services areas in its 37-bed emergency shelter, including 24\/7 counseling, meals and hiring an additional kitchen staff member<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are so very grateful for Yardi\u2019s generosity. It brought me to tears,\u201d says Ajibolade.<\/p>\n

A brighter future free from gender imbalance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud of this organization. I\u2019ve been here for many years, it is personal to me,\u201d says Ajibolade. \u201cWe are educators, and we are advocates. Together, we can end violence against women. I want to be able to close our doors one day \u2013 because our services are no longer needed, maybe take up farming,\u201d she smiles. \u201cUntil then, we work together to end gender-based violence as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explore the Giving page for more ways that Yardi gives back to the communities in which we work and live.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. We unite to support vulnerable members of the community and end domestic abuse through education, advocacy and service. At The Redwood, an emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abuse, every month is domestic violence awareness month. 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