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Dear friend,
This summer we were busy planning and expanding access to services. As fall arrives, we’re taking time to appreciate the women and children of Alice House, our staff, board, and you – our community!
Read more to learn about what’s happening at Alice House.
| | Expanding Support In French | | | | |
Seeking support after intimate partner violence can mean navigating unfamiliar services, sharing difficult experiences, and making important decisions about safety and the future.
Being able to communicate in your own language can make those steps easier.
Our new bilingual Outreach and Support Worker, Valérie Andrzejewski, has joined the team to strengthen our connections with French-speaking survivors and support their recovery from abuse.
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Alongside expanding access to written French-language resources, Valérie offers:
- Emotional support
- Information about Alice House’s services and resources
- Translation assistance when accessing community services
- Violence prevention education
- Referrals to additional supports
| Expanding French-language support builds on our commitment to making services more accessible. Alice House also works to support women and children who speak a variety of other languages through digital translation tools and community language partnerships, where available. | | |
 
From the Drop-in Centre
An Evening of Community & Gratitude
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Last week, our kitchen was filled with warmth as staff and clients peeled potatoes, baked pies, and roasted turkeys for our annual Appreciation Dinner.
Laughter and storytelling carried through the room as everyone prepared a meal to share.
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Together, we supported 11 women and their children and shared more than 30 meals. It was heartwarming to see children playing together while new participants connected with those who have been part of our programs longer.
Even in times of hardship, moments like these offer something meaningful: a chance to connect, share stories, and build friendships. Our small kitchen was full and so was the sense of community.
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Call to action
Help Make the Holidays Brighter
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For some Alice House households, this will be their first season in a new home after leaving an abusive relationship. They may be rebuilding with fewer belongings, replacing everyday essentials, and creating new traditions while adjusting to a life that looks different.
Purchase a gift from our wish list to help women and their children make new memories and rebuild their lives.
A thoughtfully chosen gift can help make a new space feel more comfortable, alleviate the financial pressures of the holiday season, and give families a moment to celebrate together as they create new traditions.
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  Help Stock Our Hygiene and Essentials Closet | |
We are currently collecting hygiene items for women, children, and youth supported by Alice House.
Our most-needed items include:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body wash and bar soap
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
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Other basic essential items (check the list here!)
We are grateful for donations that can support people of all genders, including the teenage boys in our programs.
These everyday items make a real difference. They help ensure that families have access to the basics they need to feel clean, comfortable, and cared for.
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| | No Cost Trauma-Therapy at Alice House | |
Leaving an abusive relationship does not always mean its effects are over. Once the immediate crisis ends, the impact looks different for everyone and may include fear, grief, self-doubt, or difficulty feeling safe and trusting again.
Alongside emotional support, safety planning, and advocacy, Alice House provides specialized clinical therapy with registered counselling therapists at no cost. Last year alone, we offered 556 free therapeutic counselling sessions to women and children impacted by IPV.
Women and their children of all ages can access this service without living in an Alice House unit. Our therapists draw on a variety of approaches to help survivors work through the effects of abuse, tailoring care to their needs, choices, and pace.
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Behind the Scenes
Listening, Learning, Planning.
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Who are we reaching? And who might still face barriers to our support? What do different service models make possible? What does our team need to do its best work?
These questions shaped our recent staff reflection day. With our Executive Director returning from parental leave in late summer, we prioritized space to reconnect, share feedback, and envision next steps in increasing our impact.
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On the blog
Common Misconceptions About IPV
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Challenging misconceptions about IPV helps reduce stigma, prevent victim-blaming, and create safer communities where survivors feel believed and supported.
In our most recent blog post, Program Coordinator Jennifer McNaughton explores some of the most common misconceptions about IPV, addressing why leaving is often complex and dangerous, how abuse can happen behind closed doors, and why there is no single “look” or “type” of survivor.
| "Misunderstandings about IPV can lead to victim-blaming, stigma, and survivors feeling unsupported or unsafe seeking help. Education and awareness help create safer, more compassionate communities where survivors feel believed and supported." |  
| | Thank You for Being Part of Our Community | Together, we are helping create a future where every woman and child in Nova Scotia can live free from violence. | | | | |
