When trying to get out of prostitution, women face many obstacles. To help them in their efforts, a new accommodation and support service dedicated to their specific needs is opening its doors in Québec.
“It’s a need that was expressed by the survivors,” explains the general manager of the Maison de Marthe, Ginette Massé. They wanted to get out of it, but didn’t know how. They needed a place where they could beach themselves safely. »
On the phone, Mr.me Massé evokes a “gear” from which it is very difficult to get out. “Our survivors tell us that when they fell into prostitution at 14-15 years old, they believed they could get out of it whenever they wanted. But when they wanted to do it, that was another story. They lived through difficulties, traumas, they had no money and found life too difficult on an empty stomach. They no longer had a network to help them, as they had cut ties with their families and had no place to go. They lived with their bundle, three months here, three months there, and since they weren’t in an environment conducive to their development, they fell back several times. »
Some had to change town to escape a pimp. Others ended up in shelters for women victims of domestic violence. But the mission is not the same, and the treatments are not adapted for this specific clientele, specifies Mme Mass. “They came out of there saying that they didn’t feel well, that they didn’t belong. It just didn’t meet their needs. »
New start
It is therefore to fill this void that the Maison de Marthe, a community organization that has been supporting women “victims of sexual exploitation” since 2006, has decided to expand its service offer to allow them to experience a “new beginning”. in a “pleasant living environment”.
Thus, from Monday, six single rooms will be made available to women who are trying to get by. Family units will eventually be added. The length of stay has not yet been fixed: it could range from three months to one year, depending on the particular needs of the residents.
Women will be supported throughout their journey with personalized follow-up and workshops related to physical, psychological and sexual health. The road is sometimes long, because these women have experienced a lot of violence and developed traumas that come to the surface, recalls Ms.me Mass. “When they are ready to develop new relationships, they are afraid. Some are not able to be touched and relive the after-effects. »
The Maison de Marthe team has also developed a self-help program similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous, but adapted to sexually exploited women. Because they need help to stay sober. “When they go to mixed groups and talk about their experience as prostitutes, they are often accosted at the end of the meeting by men [qui veulent acheter leurs services]sighs M.me Mass. When there are males in the picture, it’s not winning for our women. »
The Maison de Marthe team also accompanies women in their official procedures: they put them in contact with a specialized job search center for women who have lost work or direct them to a school service center to those who want to go back to school. The workers will help them find housing and offer legal support for those who wish to regain custody of their child or obtain a pardon.
A large laboratory
It took more than three years for the project, presented in 2018, to see the light of day. “I spent a year with a colleague applying for grants! says with enthusiasm Ginette Massé, the general manager.
The team also conducted a review of the support services available for women who want to leave prostitution at the regional, national and international levels. She enlisted the services of researchers and set up a “survivors’ committee” to help the team in assessing needs and intervention programs.
“Everything that will happen here has been discussed and enhanced with the help of the survivors,” says Ms.me Mass. And the self-assessment exercise will be continuous during the first three years. “We are going to be a big laboratory! she rejoices.