FAMILY
PEI FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES Providing important housing options By Jordan Parker Photo Evan Ceretti
PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. is committed to supports for women and children fleeing abusive situations, and housing is among the most important things they provide. “We are a non-profit dedicated to the eradication of family violence on PEI.” said organization Executive Director Danya O’Malley. They began in 1981, and soon opened emergency shelter Anderson House in Charlottetown. They’ve expanded since then to outreach as well. “We try to also work with those who need services, but not necessarily shelter. In a year, our outreach programs help 300-to-400 people. In our shelters, we help 70-to-80 people a year,” she said. “We deal with everything, including one-on-one supportive counselling, advocacy, case management, and help with financial security, housing and childcare.”
O’Malley is proud of the work they do day-to-day, and the people they’re able to help. “We focus on prevention also, and go into schools,” she said. “I oversee a lot of the prevention work, then we have middle management and frontline staff as well.” She began at the non-profit by accident and ended up finding a job she adores. “I was doing my Bachelor of Social Work at Dalhousie University, and you must do two placements. At the end of the first year, I did one with Anderson House,” she said. She was placed for three months part- time and became very involved around the shelter. “The director soon decided they wanted me to stick around. I answered phones, worked hard, and formed great relationships. When I finished school, I
PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. Executive Director, Danya O’Malley. (photo: Even Ceretti)
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www.pei-living.ca SPRING 2022
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