2016/17Annual Report

Board of Directors for 2016-2017Cayley Rodd ChairSara McLennan Vice-ChairDianne Romano TreasurerCarol Brandt SecretarySarah Baxter Director Paula Fecteau DirectorJanice Savage Director Al Green DirectorGrahame Farquhar DirectorMike Farwell DirectorChristina Pawliszyn DirectorJennifer Eby DirectorTracey Appleton Director

Management Team Mary Zilney Chief Executive OfficerCarolyn Albrecht Senior Director of OperationsMerle Fast Residential Manager, Haven HouseErin Schreiter Residential Manager, Anselma HouseKourtney Beckman Fund Development ManagerJennifer Hutton Outreach Manager

Women’s Crisis Services operates two emergency shelters and Outreach services for abused women and their children throughout Waterloo Region. Anselma House is located in Kitchener and Haven House is in Cambridge. We assist women age 16 plus with or without their children.

www.wcswr.orgfacebook.com/womenscrisisSWR @womenscrisisSWR

Vision: Our Preferred FutureA community free from violence and abuse in any of its forms.

Mission: Our Purpose In partnership with our community, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region empowers and supports women and children to move beyond violence and abuse through the provision of safe shelter, education and outreach services.

Photos throughout this publication are courtesy of The Big Bas, Dale Mann and other contributors.

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This past year has been an extremely challenging and busy one for Women’s Crisis Services. In addition to the energy and time devoted to the fundraising and construction of the new Haven House in Cambridge, we worked strategically and diligently to fundraise the $500,000 which is needed annually to meet operating costs for the agency. The new Haven House campaign fell short of its overall goal and a $2 M mortgage was put into place at the end of 2016.

Anselma House and Haven House each have 45 beds. The Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) is Women’s Crisis Services main funder. They provide funding for 28 beds at Anselma House and 30 beds at Haven House; which is 58 out of the 90 available beds. The difference between the funded beds and those actually occupied needs to be fundraised.

In addition to needing to fundraise the Haven House mortgage expenditures, the rising costs of utilities, property maintenance, employee benefits, technology needs and so forth resulted in the agency reaching a financial crossroad.

After thorough and careful analysis, it was determined that the agency could no longer sustain operations on a long term basis by keeping all 90 beds open. As a result, in October 2016 the difficult decision was made to cap occupancy at 32 beds per shelter and adjust staffing levels accordingly. By capping occupancy at 64 beds, we still continue to provide services to more women and children than are funded by the Ministry. This measure was essential in order to reduce expenses so that the agency’s financial obligations can continue to be met. Further, it continues to be imperative that staffing levels directly correlate to the number of residents being served, in order to provide excellence in service delivery.

Under the Pay Equity Act legislation, Women’s Crisis Services was obligated to close wage gaps as identified under the Proxy Pay Equity Plan, which was signed with the union on March 11, 2010. Each year the agency estimated its pay equity adjustment amount at the beginning of the year and then reconciled it at the end of the year. As of December 31, 2016 we were very pleased to announce that all unionized positions had achieved pay equity. All unionized positions have closed their proxy pay equity wage gaps. The non-union categories had achieved pay equity several years ago.

2016-2017AGM Report

By: Mary Zilney MSW, RSW Chief Executive Officer

In AppreciationAs in past years, we value and depend upon the countless partnerships we share with our community; our work cannot be done in isolation. It is only in collaboration that the intergenerational cycle of abuse can be broken. Thanks to each of you for your ongoing teamwork and assistance to help reduce violence against women in Waterloo Region.

Our funding partners continued to support our goal of providing ongoing excellence in

service delivery to our clients. Because of their contributions, we have been able to continue delivering the same level of programming over the past year.

Our sincere thanks are extended to the following funders:The United Way of Kitchener Waterloo provided funding for both the Residential Program at Anselma House, and the Outreach Program.

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As always, Ilda Gizas, Program Supervisor at the Ministry of Community and Social Services has remained a continuous and steadfast asset to our agency. Thank you Ilda for your assistance and support!

Our Incredible Board of DirectorsThe partnership and support once again demonstrated by our Board of Directors has been invaluable. Following all the difficult decisions that were required over the past year, we had the opportunity to celebrate the opening of the new Haven House in September. Women’s Crisis Services is most fortunate to have such a remarkable group of women and men governing the agency. Thanks to each of you for all your assistance over the past year!

Our Amazing DonorsWithout question, we could not sustain our daily operations without the support of our phenomenal donors! We are very fortunate to have each of you as supporters and part of the Women’s Crisis Services team. We value your financial donations and continue to allocate your funds wisely and for the purposes to which they were intended. Thank you for once again recognizing the importance of our work in the community!

2016-2017AGM Report

By: Mary Zilney MSW, RSW Chief Executive Officer

The United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries provided funding for the Residential Program at Haven House.

The City of Cambridge provided financial support to the Residential Program at Haven House.

Operating grants were received from:Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation, the Zonta Club of Kitchener Waterloo, Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Elementary Teachers Federation, Shoppers Drug Mart Life Foundation, Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and the May Court Club of Kitchener Waterloo.

L to R, Front to back: Mike Farwell, Al Green, Grahame Farquhar, Christina Pawliszyn, Carol Brandt, Paula Fecteau, Janice Savage,

Cayley Rodd, Sarah Baxter, Jennifer Eby, Tracey Appleton, Sara McLennan

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2016-2017AGM Report

By: Mary Zilney MSW, RSW Chief Executive Officer

Update on the “She Deserves It” campaign to rebuild Haven HouseIn the words of Albert Einstein, “Resources are the enemy of imagination.” This quote inspired many of us throughout the “She Deserves It” campaign to rebuild Haven House. We refused to let resources, financial or otherwise, interfere with the end goal of building a shelter that all abused women and their children deserve; their home away from home.

On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. This is why Women’s Crisis Services work is so important; we are here to save lives.

On September 8, 2016 we celebrated the opening of the new Haven House on 10 Acorn Way in Cambridge, after 5 years of intense dedication by countless individuals. Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, we invited a few very special supporters to “cut the chains” to symbolize breaking the chains of abuse.

It was a significant milestone in the history of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, having rebuilt both Anselma House and Haven House in a 10 year period. Both shelters have been built with a view to expand, considering the rapid growth in our Region.

The rebuild Haven House project began in November 2011 and certainly experienced a number of challenges. The first hurdle was securing the land which took until June 2014. Only because of Vince Varga’s persistence and commitment over a three and a half year period did this land deal happen. You can imagine that a few of us were exasperated by the time the property actually became ours. This was a big obstacle now behind us.

Also in June of 2014, Sara McLennan came on board to Chair the fundraising Leadership Team. We sure hit the jackpot there….what a superstar!

As the Canadian dollar began to decline, and building costs continued to increase, so did our budget. Significant and necessary cuts were made by the team. We ended up with a total budget of $9.4 M including land costs.

L to R: Greg Poste, Sara McLennan, Mayor Doug Craig

On September 9, 2014 we publicly announced the land acquisition and our campaign. That was when our future neighbours vocally shared their displeasure with having a shelter built in their back yard and petitioned at the City of Cambridge. Thankfully, and with the assistance of many, we worked through that opposition successfully.

Part way through construction we needed to switch banks as the bank we had dealt with for decades refused to finance the project. Thank heavens for TD, who believed in us enough to provide us with the construction financing we needed and subsequently a mortgage.

There were serious challenges with a few sub-trades, a six week delay in construction, and people not following through on their offers to assist; both financially and otherwise.

The ups and downs were remarkable; especially relating to fundraising. But nothing was beyond what we would try in order to secure funds. There were bouts of disappointment, frustration and worry. A wicked roller coaster ride or an onslaught of tidal waves somewhat mirrored our fundraising campaign experience.

Having said all this, the reason the Leadership Fundraising team was so exhausted at the end of the campaign was because the project costs were $9.4 M and our outstanding shortfall, which became a mortgage,

was $2 M. The Leadership team all superseded expectations to make Haven House a reality. I have been so blessed to have partnered with these unbelievable individuals!

Together in partnership, we built a 32,600 square foot facility that is much more than a shelter. It is a wraparound response to assisting abused women and their children. Safety planning, pet therapy, music therapy, children’s services, counselling, education, an onsite clinical psychologist, nurse practitioner, dental hygienist and the presence of Family and Children’s Services all form part of the team that works in collaboration to assist abused women and their children.

We were only able to build the new Haven House because of the financial generosity of our donors who have been the cornerstone of our success! Words are so inadequate to thank everyone. Each of us involved with the project was truly surrounded with their gentle wings, expertise and generosity along with their unconditional support; all the while sharing our belief that “She Deserves It.”

Most importantly, to the abused women and children we will continue to serve, I hope the new Haven House will provide each of you with, not only safety and comfort, but also the determination to “Move Beyond Violence.” And to this end, we remain committed to assist you.

2016-2017AGM Report

By: Mary Zilney MSW, RSW Chief Executive Officer

L to R, Back to front: Greg Barratt, Sara McLennan, Mary Zilney, John Goodwin, Victoria Locke, Bobbi Stewart, Kourtney Beckman

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2016-2017AGM Report

By: Cayley Rodd Board Chair

As supporters of WCSWR you have likely been confronted with a disturbing poster, brochure or ad with heavy chains stating “She Deserves It”. This theme for the rebuild of Haven House raised eyebrows and generated numerous questions – which was the intended goal.

We are happy to report that as of September, 2016, the home that abused women and their families DO deserve opened its doors in Cambridge. While we continue to be disappointed with the need for larger facilities in our Region, we are fortunate to have been able to provide a larger and improved haven for families in our community with the rebuilt Haven House.

This marks the end of the organization’s second build, and second capital campaign, in six short years. Both were huge successes thanks to the generosity of our community and the tireless efforts of our building team and our Leadership Capital Campaign fundraising team. The generous assistance of the City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo, both financially and throughout the administrative process, has been greatly appreciated. The support from our local representatives at all levels of government and from our government partners has been tireless throughout this process and we appreciate their ongoing support of the organization. We look forward to our continued partnerships.

The Board has spent a great deal of the past four years on the campaign to rebuild Haven House and now find ourselves in a different sort of rebuilding phase. We are regrouping and refocusing on our role in governing this essential organization and are bringing our attention to what the organization does daily and the stories of the women and children that we support both in the shelters and through the community outreach program. We will soon be completing the new Strategic Plan to help the organization and the Board focus on the next chapter of WCSWR.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the management team and all the staff of WCSWR, who have spent countless hours on the campaign itself, on the challenges associated with the successful transition to the new Haven House and working daily with the women and children in our community.

As the Board, we have the unique opportunity to see the totality of the outpouring of support from this community, whether with in-kind donations of all sorts, contributions of time, financial pledges or cash donations to either the capital campaign or operating funds. It was overwhelming to watch a community pull together – again. You demonstrated that she does, in fact, deserve it.

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Thank you for believing that “She Deserves It”For years, in the midst of a crisis, women and children were being forced to share bedrooms and bathrooms with people they didn’t know. They were eating in shifts because our kitchen was so small. They didn’t deserve that.

Counselling and therapy, in fact all programming, had to be done in closets and cramped spaces at Haven House. It was not as effective as it should have been and was, at times, uncomfortable. Women and children escaping abuse didn’t deserve that.

The shelter was not a private, calm, therapeutic place to seek refuge and heal from abuse and violence. It wasn’t what she deserved.

Because of the generosity and compassion of so many people, together we rebuilt Haven House, because SHE DESERVES IT. Thank you.

The past year brought many new supporters who reached far beyond where we could reach on our own. Our Leadership team lead the way and brought our community together, brick by brick, donation by donation. Haven House is truly a community project that will change the lives of so many of our friends, neighbours and loved ones.

Alongside the rebuild of Haven House, we forged ahead with new third party events, campaigns, and celebrated successes at our Women’s Week event- Terrific Tables, at our Annual Golf Tournament and under the stars at our Stars and Strength Gala at the enchanting Hacienda Sarria. All of which required not only financial sponsorship and support, but many volunteer hours of support and dedication.

It is because of you, our donors, our supporters, our volunteers, that we are breaking the chains of abuse. We have a dedicated Outreach program and two shelters for abused women and children in our region. Within the walls of Anselma House and Haven House we offer safe refuge and a place to heal for your sister, mother, colleague, neighbour.

We do this because SHE DESERVES IT.

2016-2017Fund Development Report

By:

Kourtney Beckman, CFRE Fund Development Manager

Our statistics for the 2016-2017 fiscal year are: Anselma House169 women and 134 children served13,343 days of care were provided to women and children

Haven House160 women and 139 children served9,981 days of care were provided to women and children

Crisis Calls2467 were received regionally

Outreach852 women were served regionally

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2016-2017Leadership Report

By: Sara McLennanChair, Leadership Team, Rebuild Haven House

Because someone like you gave...As I write this update late into the evening, I find myself thinking about the women and children who are sleeping at Haven House right now. A beautiful new place where they seek safety and rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse. The journey to make that a reality was not an easy one. Or perhaps I should say – IS not an easy one. The journey continues. I remain hopeful that people will continue to give, to help us address this shortfall which is now reflected in a mortgage that places an operational burden on the agency. But...despite our shortfall, the doors are now open and the shelter is providing much needed services. For that we are very thankful.

Haven House will serve families of Waterloo Region for years to come and will be transformational for the residents who pass over the door step. A big, courageous and life-altering step. A step that became possible for one simple reason; people chose to stand up and say they’d help. One after another they gave so Haven House could be a reality. In fact, many of you who gave are reading this so let me again offer my heartfelt thanks to you. It is because of you that the residents of Haven House are safe and getting the support they need. As you consider your charitable giving for this year I ask you to please continue to show support by making a donation to Haven House. Every donation helps reduce our mortgage.

Thank you.

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2016-2017Treasurer’s Report

By: Dianne RomanoTreasurer

This past fiscal year was a very exciting time for our organization. The residents of Haven House moved from Concession Rd to Acorn Way in September 2016. Shortly thereafter the former Haven House was sold. We ended the fiscal year with a mortgage of $1,812,661 on Haven House.

The Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) provides a significant portion of the funding for the costs associated with running our shelters. However, we continue to look for assistance from the community to meet the additional demand for our services as well as the capital costs associated with building new Haven House. Continued overwhelming support from the community, our generous donors and volunteers has allowed us to continue to meet the demand for our services.

During the year ended March 31, 2017, our fundraising efforts generated donations of $1,487,002 of which $1,305,660 was allocated towards the Capital Campaign Reserve Fund for the new Haven House. Donations include $32,845 of donations in kind for materials that we would normally purchase. The financial statements do not reflect other donations, including the many hours contributed by volunteers that assist us in the delivery of our programs.

During the year we incurred $ 3,370,327 for the building and $130,000 for furniture and fixtures in connection with new Haven House.

Our program delivery and administration activities are recorded in the Operating Fund. Below is a brief summary of the Operating Fund for the year ended March 31, 2017.

RevenueMCSS funding ................................................................................................ $2,966,163Gain on sale of Haven House .......................................................................... 527,185Donations and fundraising .............................................................................. 181,342United Way ......................................................................................................... 204,809Grants .........................................................................................................................31,361Interest .......................................................................................................................4,254Other ............................................................................................................................6,461Total Revenue ................................................................................................... 3,921,575

ExpendituresSalaries and benefits .................................................................................... 2,506,476Amortization ........................................................................................................719,509Repairs and maintenance ..............................................................................230,938Fundraising/Gift in Kind ....................................................................................73,289Utilities ................................................................................................................... 135,494Other operating: Office and administration expense ............................................................. 154,313 Program and other expenses ........................................................................219,372 Interest ..................................................................................................................... 72,715 ...............................................................................................................................446,400

Total Expenditures ............................................................................................4,112,106

Excess of expenses over revenues for the year .................................... 190,531

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WOMEN’S CRISIS SERVICES OF WATERLOO REGION

WOMEN’S CRISIS SERVICES OF WATERLOO REGION

WOMEN’S CRISIS SERVICES OF WATERLOO REGION

WOMEN’S CRISIS SERVICES OF WATERLOO REGION

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ANSELMA HOUSE700 Heritage Drive, Kitchener, ON N2A 3N924 HOUR CRISIS LINE 519-742-5894TOLL FREE 1-800-410-4482TELEPHONE 519-741-9184FAX 519-741-1478

HAVEN HOUSE 10 Acorn Way, Cambridge, ON N1R 8M524 HOUR CRISIS LINE 519-653-2422TOLL FREE 1-800-410-4482TELEPHONE 519-653-2289FAX 519-653-0902

facebook.com/womenscrisisSWR

@womenscrisisSWR

www.wcswr.org

“She Deserves It…a rebuilt Haven House” Haven House dates back to 1978 where abused women and their children were first helped to “Move Beyond Violence” in a house on water Street in Cambridge called the Rotary Family Centre. A 1981 move to Argyle Street also included a name change to Family Crisis Shelter. In 1991, a new 11 bed shelter was built on Concession Road in Cambridge and later in 1998 the name changed once again to Women’s Crisis Services of Cambridge and North Dumfries. By 2002, the Concession Road location was expanded to 30 beds, and as a result of the amalgamation with Anselma House, the final name change became Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Our new 45 bed facility on Acorn Way was opened in 2016.

“The dragonfly lifts us up and encourages us to believe that human courage and ingenuity may keep alive our finest human values” Carter Rivard