BREAKING THE CYCLE THE IMPLICATIONS OF A RECOVERY HOUSE AND A RESOURCE HUB FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALIZATION ALYSSA HOLT AND AMY MOIR Cover photo by: Alyssa Holt ii E A SSA H (SHE/HE /HE S D . JE H A WestJet, n d ED B S) A D A E IFE I A S S & DIS (SHE/HE IA A ISED B H AFFI I IA A D D I I E S IC E I . J I ES H I E SI ABE H F A D S CIE /HE S) iii A D AC EDGE E First and foremost, we wish to acknowledge the ancestral, traditional, and unceded lands of the Tk emlúps te Secwépemc in which this research project is located As student researchers who are learning, working, and living on this land, it is of the utmost importance to us to recognize and celebrate the knowledge, talents, and people that have existed on this land for thousands of years As students who are researching women who are criminalized, we believe it is important to acknowledge that Indigenous women are disproportionately criminalized by society due to the oppression they have experienced from colonization, imperialism, and racism We recognize the historical, multigenerational, and intergenerational trauma caused by colonial violence and the unique barriers to justice imposed on Indigenous women We honour the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, who were targeted for violence by colonial society and unprotected by the Canadian state We realize the importance of centering Indigenous knowledge, self determined solutions, and decolonizing justice As we are both settlers on this land, we acknowledge our privilege and commit to taking an anti oppressive approach to research and to listen to the voices of Indigenous people and support them in their endeavours We are grateful to be on the Secwepemcúl ecw territory to conduct this research project we hope that the findings from this report make a positive impact within the community iv AB E F C E S Land Acknowledgement Acknowledgements Abstract iii v vii Section 1 Introduction Purpose Importance Language Matters Locating Ourselves Methodology 1 2 3 4 5 7 Section 2 Women Experiencing Criminalization Context Indigenous Women Healthcare Needs Relationships Community Reintegration Barriers Important Considerations 9 10 13 16 21 23 25 30 Section 3 Recovery Housing What is Recovery Housing Examples of Recovery Housing Housing First Tensions Considerations for a Successful Recovery House 34 35 36 39 41 49 Section 4 Resources Hubs What is a Resource Hub Examples of Resource Hub Benefits of a Hub Complications with a Hub Considerations for a Successful Hub 54 55 57 59 60 61 Section Recommendations Indigenous Women Healthcare Relationships Community Reintegration Barriers Important Considerations Extras 65 67 70 74 75 77 81 83 Section Conclusion Summary Limitations Future Research Concluding Thoughts References 86 87 88 89 90 92 v AB E F FIG ES Figure 1: Summary of Section 2 33 Figure 2: Impact of Recovery Housing 38 Figure 3: Types of Hub Models 56 Figure 4: Summary of Section 5 85 vi AC EDGE E S We would like to thank Thompson Rivers University and the Kamloops District Elizabeth Fry Society for allowing us the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research We would also like to thank our supervisors Dr Jennifer Murphy and Dr Juliana West for approaching us with this opportunity and supporting us as we navigate this research project Finally, we wish to thank everyone else in our lives for supporting us through our education journey vii ABS This research project was conducted in affiliation with Thompson Rivers University TRU and the Kamloops District Elizabeth Fry Society as part of the TRU community development research grant The goal was to gain deeper insight into how recovery houses and resource hubs could help women who have been criminalized To begin, a literature review was conducted on women experiencing criminalization and their needs and concerns Through this review, five main themes emerged These were the overrepresentation of Indigenous women, the fragmentation of their healthcare experiences, the need to re negotiate their relationships, the challenges of community reintegration, and additional barriers such as employment and housing Consideration is given to two subsets of this population, older women and transgender or gender variant women Consideration is also given to the impact that the COVID 19 pandemic has on women who have been criminalized AC Second, a literature review was conducted regarding recovery houses and the benefits and challenges within Some key points are the principles of Housing First, the importance of women only space, complications of safety and surveillance, and the tensions with substance use and harm reduction Third, a literature review was conducted on the existence of resource hubs Due to their limited nature, this review was expanded internationally Key points of this section are the benefits and challenges that accompany multi agency partnerships and the need to prioritize collaboration, flexibility, and client centred care The information shared in these three sections is then compiled into a list of recommendations that mirror the five themes of concern for women experiencing criminalization The vision of the recovery house and the resource hub is to work collaboratively to address these five areas of a woman s life, to provide holistic care, and to ensure no woman falls through the gap SEC I 1 1 I D C This Section The Purpose of this Report Why is this Topic Important Why does our Language Matter Locating ourselves as Student Researchers An Explanation of our Methodology I SEC I 1: I D C I 2 SE This research project is conducted in affiliation with Thompson Rivers University and the Kamloops District Elizabeth Fry Society as part of an ongoing collaboration researching housing for women who are criminalized and resource hub models A literature review was conducted to understand the experiences of women who have been criminalized and the possible impact that recovery housing and resource hubs could have for this population This report synthesizes the findings from the literature review and compiles the findings into three sections, who are these women and what are their needs , considerations for a recovery house model, and the impact of a resource hub Some of the points this report will touch on, among others, are: the healthcare needs of women living with criminalization, the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in the criminal justice system, scattered site versus single site housing facilities, and the benefits and barriers of multi agency collaborations Although the literature review was not exhaustive and the recommendations in this report are preliminary we hope this report provides valuable insights and an adequate first step in this ongoing process to better support women experiencing criminalization within the Kamloops region SEC I H 1: I D IS C 3 I HIS I Understanding the processes involved in criminalization and the needs of women subject to these processes is extremely important as this growing population tends to be disregarded and viewed through a harmful, victim blaming lens What people generally fail to realize is that women experiencing criminalization have been victimized by oppressive social relations and structural violence that entraps them in cycles of poverty and dependence Fortune Arai, 2014, p 101 This dependency must be understood as originating from a misogynist society that obstructs equality by undervaluing women s work in both the private and public sectors, and one that uses criminalization as contemporary colonization for Indigenous people Maidment, 2007, p 39 West, 2014 A ? The social safety net has been weakened due to the precarious low wage job market, immigration policing, cuts to social assistance, social services, substance abuse and mental health services, all of which contribute to the criminalization of women Pollack, 2009, p 84 An overwhelming amount of women s criminal involvement is a direct result of social, cultural, sexual, and political oppression efforts to resist these oppressions and escape dependency account for the majority of women s crime Maidment, 2007, p 39 Photo by: Amy Moir 4 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION LANGUAGE MATTERS It is imperative to use an anti oppressive, anti privilege framework to understand issues associated with criminalization and work with women who have been criminalized in an empowering way that recognizes criminalization as a social issue rather than an individual one Fortune Arai, 2014, p 101 Mullaly West, 2018 Language portrays ideological values and has significant influence over how the subject being discussed will be perceived and treated therefore, language should reflect that women living with criminalization are just that, women, who are experiencing an atrocious social process Maidment, 2007, p 39 Women living with criminalization are women first and should never be reduced to dehumanizing labels which perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions This is why we never use phrases such as criminalized women or women offenders throughout this report but instead refer to women who are experiencing criminalization 5 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION LOCATING OURSELVES We Alyssa Holt and Amy Moir are both students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work program at Thompson Rivers University TRU in Kamloops, British Columbia We are currently going into our fourth year of undergraduate studies and this has been our first experience researching outside of the classroom We are the recipients of the TRU Community Development Research Grant which is a research grant that aims to get students involved in research that serves the needs of the community Thompson Rivers University, 2016 As women in social work, both of us are passionate about issues affecting women and feel extremely grateful to be able to research the experiences of women who have experienced criminalization As intersectional feminists, we have conducted this research and written this report through a feminist lens that considers the impact of sexism, the patriarchy, and systemic barriers that are in place for women, especially those who have been criminalized Olson, n d 6 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION We began this research project in Kamloops, British Columbia However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic our research is being completed from Alberta, where we are both originally from We wish to honour and acknowledge the traditional territories where we were born and raised, Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 We also wish to acknowledge the traditional peoples of these territories, including the Blackfoot, Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Îyâxe Nakoda, and Tsuut ina nations, as well as the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, and the Métis peoples As settlers on this land who are conducting research that disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples, we believe it is extremely important to reflect on the privileged position we hold and make a commitment to be actively anti oppressive and anti privilege in both our professional and personal lives The Alberta Teachers Association, 2017 7 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY This research project was presented to us in January 2020, however, we did not officially begin research until May 2020 This project was completed in September 2020 and in total took 120 hours each To begin, we conducted a literature review on three different but intertwined subjects: women who have been criminalized and their needs, recovery housing and its benefits and challenges, and finally, resource hubs and their benefits and challenges We first sought to understand women who have been criminalized, by looking at statistics, scholarly articles, and interviews Photo by: Alyssa Holt Through the literature, five common themes emerged: the overrepresentation of Indigenous women, healthcare needs, relationship renegotiating, difficulties with community reintegration, and additional barriers including stress over housing and employment Prioritizing women and their unique experiences helped us to build a foundation upon which we learned about housing and hub based models All our reading was done through a critical, anti oppressive, and intersectional feminist lens that prioritized a strength based approach that saw the system at fault, not the women We split the research project into two parts data gathering and writing the report The research grant was 120 hours and we split this into 70 hours of research and 50 of writing SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION We pivoted our research at just under 100 scholarly articles analyzed, which we tracked through a spreadsheet From there we pulled common themes from the women, housing, and hub research and began to create an outline Because our research was grounded in women s experiences, we put this section ahead of the housing and hub sections so that readers will gain an understanding of their unique needs that inform the next sections Photo by: Alyssa Holt 8 The recommendation section is intentionally mirrored to section two in order to address the common themes that emerged as needs for these women The intention behind this research project was to gain a deeper understanding of women in the criminal justice system and how a recovery house and resource hub can help provide care that is relevant, comprehensive, and holistic Through this knowledge, we hope this is a step towards partnering with women who have been criminalized to break the cycle of social control inflicted upon them 9 SECTION 2 WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION This Section An introduction into the realities of women who have been incarcerated The unique experiences, needs, and concerns of women who have experienced criminalization, including Indigenous Women Healthcare Relationships Community Reintegration Additional Barriers Important Considerations SECTION 2: WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALI 10 ATION CONTEXT Although general crime rates have lowered in the past 30 years, women currently represent the fastest growing prison population CAEFS, 2013a The most recent statistics from the Correctional Service of Canada 2019 indicate there was an average of 693 women imprisoned in federal institutions between 2018 and 2019, as well as 744 women living with community release supervision in early 2019 Women represent approximately six percent of the total population experiencing criminalization in Canada CSC, 2019 This low percentage compared to men has historically caused the specific needs of women to be disregarded in correctional programming The use of assessment tools developed for men routinely over classify women as higher risk, therefore denying women basic human rights through placement in segregated units Hannah Moffat, 2010, pp 201, 203 Women 6 Men 94 Canada s Population of People Experiencing Criminalization SECTION 2: WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 11 CONTEXT The Correctional Service of Canada initially developed gender responsive institutions and policies based on insufficient research, resulting in the pathologization of women and their specific needs Hannah Moffat, 2010, pp 196, 201 The intention of gender responsive policies is to consider the impact gender has on women s needs, acknowledge the difference gender makes, develop relevant programs, and prevent gender discrimination however the CSC has superficially addressed gender and continues to misclassify women and force irrelevant treatment models upon them pp 196 197, 201 Mak, 2016 The incorporation of gender specific considerations in the risk need classification method is a trivial improvement as this framework fundamentally fails to capture a holistic understanding of women s needs p 204 The Correctional Investigator affirms women s corrections should be separate from men s since their needs and realities are unique and require different responses Sapers, 2008, p 23 The lack of adequate gender based support in prison is also mirrored in the community, impacting women s release and recovery and increasing her further risk for criminalization Maidment, 2005, pp 186 188 SECTION 2: WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 12 CONTEXT The majority of women who have been incarcerated are convicted for non violent offences, such as property or drug related crimes CAEFS, 2013a Typically, these Although incarceration clearly marks a offences are related to poverty As difficult time in a woman s life, it is by no many as 80 means her only experience with of offences committed by women are economic related CAEFS, 2013c Those that are convicted for violent offences are most commonly convicted for self defence or defence of their children CAEFS, 2013a institutions that seek to control her life Often, women who have experienced criminalization have already been associated with various layers of social control such as mental health institutions or involvement with child welfare either as a child or as a parent In her groundbreaking thesis, Maidment 2005 states that the law and the criminal justice system are actually in conflict with women The majority of women s crime is directly related to their economic oppression the criminal in justice system creates additional barriers to women s economic and social equality by criminalizing poverty, mental illness, past histories of abuse, and race ethnicity p 26 Typically, women who have experienced criminalization will cycle between these institutions of control this is known as transcarceration Maidment, 2005 Transcarceration removes a women s agency and power, forcing her to become dependent This report is intended to raise a discussion on how individuals and communities can support women who have experienced criminalization in ways that do not contribute to this cycle and instead promotes empowerment SECTION 2: WOMEN EXPERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 13 INDIGENOUS WOMEN Indigenous Women 42 Non Indigenous Women 58 Women in Prison Indigenous women comprise a little under half of the total population of imprisoned women Government of Canada, 2020 , yet the most recent information from Statistics Canada 2016 reports Indigenous women account for only four percent of the total population of women in Canada This disturbing overrepresentation has been identified as a strategy of colonialism, control is exerted and Indigenous women are removed and isolated from their community Monture, 2006, pp 26 27 Imprisonment does not acknowledge the impacts of colonization and will never be a solution for intergenerational trauma, poverty on reserves, or systemic racism p 27 Indigenous women experiencing imprisonment are often mothers and the only caregiver to their children separation is a traumatic experience that can exacerbate cultural dislocation as children tend to be placed in culturally inappropriate homes by child welfare CAEFS, 2013b Maidment, 2005, p 175 TRC, 2015, p 105 Once released, it is extremely challenging to regain custody of their children Women are often labelled unfit and their criminal record will continuously prevent them from regaining custody even if mothers regain custody, mother child reconciliation is very closely monitored Maidment, 2005, pp 207 208 This contributes to the horrendous overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system less than half live in culturally appropriate homes, perpetuating the impact of intergenerational trauma Turner, 2016 SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI 14 ATION INDIGENOUS WOMEN Not only are Indigenous women overrepresented within the criminal justice system. They are also more likely to receive harsher and longer sentences compared to other women experiencing criminalization. Women serving community service sentences 52.1 Indigenous women serving community service sentences 37 47.9 Women serving prison setences Statistic retrieved from CAEFS, 2013a. 63 Indigenous women serving prison sentences As previously mentioned, assessments and interventions designed for men are ineffective and harmful for women. Similarly, the use of standardi ed tools has additional discriminator effects on Indigenous women as cultural differences are ignored (Walsh et al., 2013, p. 379 . This results in the overclassification of Indigenous women as high needs , therefore high risk, justifying more restrictive conditions (p. 379 . So not only are Indigenous women overrepresented in prisons, but they are also o errepresented in ma im m sec rit and in ol ntar transfers (The Correctional Investigator Canada, 2018, p. 62 . The insufficient cultural relevance in risk and needs assessments also disadvantages Indigenous women in regard to early release, statutory or day release, and revocation (The Correctional Investigator Canada, 2019, p. 65, 68 . It is more common for Indigenous women to be denied parole and then have their parole revoked for technical reasons (CAEFS, 2013b . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 15 INDIGENOUS WOMEN Police discrimination significantly contributes to the preposterously high rate that Indigenous women are criminalized; they are the most likely group to be o er policed and ab sed b police (CAEFS, 2013b . This discrimination also exacerbates violence perpetrated against Indigenous women; police often ignore their disappearances or negligently mishandle investigations (CAEFS, 2013b . Indigenous women are more likely to e perience the most horrific forms of gendered iolence and five times more likely to die from violence (CAEFS, 2013b . They are further disadvantaged by mandatory charging policies for intimate partner violence as it is often the woman who ends up incarcerated for use of defensive violence (Balfour, 2008, pp. 103 105 . This is known as the ictimi ation criminali ation contin m, in which Indigenous women lack adequate protection from violence but their efforts to resist and survive are criminalized and harshly punished (Balfour, 2008, pp. 105, 116 . The CSC has inadequately attempted to accommodate the particular needs of Indigenous women through the introduction of Indigenous cultural programming within prisons and the creation of the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (Boyce, 2017, p. 15 . This programming follows a singular model that homogeni es all Indigeno s c lt res and traditions, perpet ating c lt ral dislocation and further harming Indigenous women s identities (Clifford, 2019, p. 26 . The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge failed to improve conditions for Indigenous women living with criminalization as it is f ndamentall colonial and ndermines Indigeno s a tonom to self determine holistic models of j stice (Boyce, 2017, p. 18 . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 16 HEALTHCARE NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH Prison has become the ltimate safet net for Canada s lack of adeq ate social ser ices women experiencing mental illness are increasingly overrepresented in this inappropriate setting (Maidment, 2005 . Although some women report experiencing prison as safer than psychiatric hospitals, prisons are not equipped to support mental health needs; this illuminates the fundamental flaws in our health care and criminal justice systems (Maidment, 2005, pp. 165, 167 . The Correctional Investigator declared prison an unsafe place for women with mental health needs and pointed out the inadequate collaboration with mental health experts (Sapers, 2013, p. 29 . Women tend to be forcibly over medicated, appallingly restrained and confined, have diagnoses bro ght on b and s mptoms e acerbated b prison conditions, and continuously cycle in and out of institutions (Maidment, 2005, pp. 166 169 . Women s distress in reaction to structural disadvantages and oppression is reframed as mental illness; women s needs are conflated with risk, allowing CSC to justify human rights violations in the name of safety (Kilty, 2012, pp. 165, 178 . Imprisoned women lose the right to refuse medication and cannot access therapeutic interventions; the medicali ation women are subject to inflicts f rther control and can be understood as an e tension of transcarceration (p. 178 . The CSC prevents comprehensive mental health assessments, treatment plans, and therapeutic relationship development through constant transfers of women experiencing mental distress (Sapers, 2008, pp. 6 7 . Plans may exclude mental health staff, lack necessary components, and harmfully focus on security, which often results in inhumane segregation (pp. 3, 7 . Gender responsive and trauma informed interventions can support a decrease in mental health symptoms for women living with criminalization (Stanton et al., 2016 . (Homeland Security Review, n. d. SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 17 HEALTHCARE NEEDS SUBSTANCE USE Women experiencing imprisonment in Canada have high rates of substance use, yet there is a lack of harm reduction programming within prisons (Poole et al., 2010, p. 4 . An intersectional and gendered approach to harm reduction has been found to effectively support women experiencing both criminalization and substance use issues (p. 2 . The correctional setting attempts to coerce omen into taking indi id al responsibilit for their substance use; the contributing structural disadvantages remain unacknowledged (Kilty, 2011, p. 12 . The harmful myth that women living with criminalization cannot manage their own health supports the patronizing practice of forcing women who have never experienced problematic substance use to participate in substance use programming (p. 12 . (Photo by: Amy Moir (Photo by: Amy Moir Although financially efficient and accessible, AA NA and other step models have been proven to be irrele ant and ineffecti e for many women experiencing criminalization since the ideology focuses on personal responsibility and deconte t ali es str ct ral iolence (Sered Norton Hawk, 2011, pp. 310, 313 . Pollack (2009 found abstaining from substance use to be one of the greatest challenges a woman experiencing criminalization can face (p. 92 . Substance use is clearly an important need to address for women who determine they require support, especially considering the ability it has to e acerbate other social and health needs (Bergseth et al., 2011, p. 104 . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 18 HEALTHCARE NEEDS TRAUMA The graph below demonstrates the disturbingly high prevalence of victimization of women who have been criminalized; nearly all federally sentenced Indigenous women have survived physical, sexual, emotional, and/or psychological abuse prior to imprisonment (CAEFS, 2013e, p. 7 . Women who are victimized by violence are at greater risk of criminalization through direct and indirect pathways such as coping with and/or resisting violence through activities deemed criminal, forcible participation in crime by an abusive partner, child endangerment charges, and destruction of protective factors (Dichter Osthoff, 2015, pp. 1, 4 7 . The prison en ironment strips women of control and intensifies the ps chological effects of tra ma such as self injury, suicidal ideation, depression, and dissociation (Pollack, 2004, p. 699 . Incarceration also tends to trigger flashbacks because the abuse dynamics of powerlessness, extreme power imbalances, and unpredictability are recreated (Pollack, 2008, p. 20 . Women s victimization within relationships is redefined through a correctional risk discourse which imposes ictim blaming sentiments and j stifies intr si e s r eillance and reg lation (Pollack, 2007, p. 166 . History of Abuse for Federally Sentenced Women P I d ge ca Se a W e 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Statistics retrieved from CAEFS, 2013a, p. 2 SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 19 HEALTHCARE NEEDS PH SICAL AND SE Women who have experienced criminalization tend to have a disproportionate n mber of illnesses compared to the general population. Some most common examples of these health concerns are h pertension asthma cer ical cancer t berc losis hepatitis B and C h man papilloma ir s HPV and h man imm nodeficienc ir s HIV (Sered Norton Hawk, 2008, p. 44; Whitehead et al., 2014, p. 1 . Many (although not all of these illnesses are uniquely experienced by women. As discussed earlier, the prison system was and is designed for men and their needs which is a large reason why omen s health care is o erlooked. This can lead to serious health consequences for these women. It is common for women who have experienced criminalization to speak about the disr ption and fragmentation that negatively affects their health (Sered Norton Hawk, 2008, p. 44 . UAL HEALTH This disruption and fragmentation can be attributed to a variety of things; from the c cling bet een instit tions and incarceration unstable housing situations, substance use, food insecurity, violence, poverty, judgemental or unsafe doctors, and general barriers to access health care are some examples (Sered Norton Hawk, 2008, p. 49 . The transition between the community to prison and back is an example of the extreme fragmentation of the health care system. Women in prison are not able to access their community doctor and likewise, women reintegrated into the community are nable to access their healthcare s pport they had while incarcerated (Sered Norton Hawk, 2008, p. 55 . This fragmentation causes a gap in services and results in doctors who are condescending to their women patients, hesitant to believe their accounts of illness, and unlikely to prescribe them their needed medications (Sered Norton Hawk, 2008, p. 55 . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 20 HEALTHCARE NEEDS PH SICAL AND SE Surprisingly, incarceration can be a time in which women acquire the medical attention they need. Since stressors such as housing and food security are diminished during incarceration, many women see this as an opport nit to make their health a priorit (Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 70 . UAL HEALTH Often, women s health will improve while in prison, only to suffer once released back into the community (Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 66 . Freudenberg et al. (2007 found that post release concerns over housing, finances, and substance use were prioritized over mental and physical health (as cited in Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 63 . Once in the comm nit s r i al concerns take precedence o er health (Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 66 . Sexual health is also low on the list of priorities as demonstrated by this quote from an interview in Ahmed et al. (2016 Women don t think of going to get pap smears and st ff like that beca se hen o are on the r n o don t ha e time to stop at o r famil doctor (p. 68 . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 21 RELATIONSHIPS MOTHERHOOD For many women, incarceration marks a period of strained family relationships. Often, when women are incarcerated they lose their connections with family or friends. This is particularly relevant to mothers in prison. The separation from their child or children is often cited as one of the greatest pains of imprisonment (Brennan, 2014, p. 12 . This separation is difficult for children too, who most often go to live with grandparents, other relatives, or are placed in foster care (CAEFS, 2013c . The disr ption of the bond bet een mother and child can ha e e tensi e impacts on both indi id al s ellbeing. The reunification of the parent child relationship can prove to be extremely impactful and is one of the largest predictors of omen s post release s ccess (Lichtenwalter et al., 2010, pp. 87, 90 . Children are often a source of pride, happiness, and support for women while incarcerated. The maintenance of the parent child relationship through phone calls, visits, and letters, has been shown to help women handle the stress and trauma of incarceration (Maidment, 2005, p. 192 . However, while children are often a source of comfort for women, they also pro ide a so rce of stress The in ol ement of child elfare in the women s life is yet another example of social control exerted over her (Maidment, 2005, p. 8 . While in prison, women will often work to regain custody of their children. Unfortunately, there is a lack of ad ocac and legal aid to s pport omen in this process (CAEFS, 2013d . Women who have been criminalized are also often labelled as a bad mother , this stigma is internalized and can cause feelings of guilt, sadness, and anxiety over not measuring up as a mother when reunification occurs (CAEFS, 2013d . SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 22 RELATIONSHIPS FAMIL , PARTNERS, AND FRIENDSHIPS In her doctoral research, Maidment (2005 found that er fe omen had s pporti e famil connections apart from their children (p. 191 . However, those that did, cited these relationships as instrumental to their wellbeing and their ability to avoid recidivism (p. 192 . Often, relationships are one of the strongest protecti e factors for women both in and out of prison (Lichtenwalter, 2010, pp. 77, 87 . However, intimate relationships are not usually associated with protective factors for women who have been criminalized, because they are often characterized by intimate partner violence. A high percentage of women who have experienced criminalization have had past experiences of abuse. of women who have been criminalized and of Indigenous women who have been criminalized have experienced violent relationships, most often from male partners (Maidment, 2005, p. 143 . One of the largest sources of relational support for women who have been incarcerated are the bonds the make hile inside (Turnbull Hannah Moffat, 2009, pp. 542 543 . The support of fellow women who can relate and understand their experiences is critically important. However, once women re enter the community, their parole conditions often stipulate what is known as a non association cla se (Turnbull Hannah Moffat, 2009, pp. 542 543 . This prevents women from associating with anyone they meet while incarcerated or risk being in violation of their parole and potentiall being sent back to prison This clause leaves women in a lnerable and isolated position once released. A high number do not have close or positive relationships with family, have a painful history with intimate partners, and are not allowed to contact any friends they made while incarcerated. SECTION 2: WOMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI COMMUNIT Transitioning back into the community tends to be very challenging, especially when women have experienced extensive transcarceration (Maidment, 2005, p. 178 . Women face an intense ps chological adj stment due to the drastic shift of being surrounded by people in prison to potentially being alone in a single unit (Kirst et al., 2014, p. 6; Maidment, 2005, p. 178 . The new environmental demands imposed on women post release can cause them to question their identity and confront lost obligations (Bengtsson Tops et al., 2014, p. 413 . ATION 23 REINTEGRATION Women experiencing criminalization are not free of social control mechanisms post release; police surveillance perpetuates intrusion into their lives (Maidment, 2005, p. 188 . Kilty and DeVellis (2010 use the term grey space to refer to the conceptual space forced upon women living with criminalization, consisting of partial community freedom along with strict criminal justice regulations (p. 143 Women are closel go erned ithin gre space and constantly at high risk to return to prison as non criminal activities, such as returning home late, are criminalized and sanctioned (pp. 150, 155 . Extreme regulation and denial of agency persists upon community re entry, exacerbating oppressive power dynamics and restricting women s ability to recover (p. 155 . SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI COMMUNIT ATION 24 REINTEGRATION Social support has been identified as one of the most important factors for women re entering the community post imprisonment Severance, 2004, p. 91 . Photo by: Amy Moir Maidment 2005 found that women tend to experience less loneliness in prison than they do in the community however, a sense of belonging can support women to live in the community and avoid returning to prison Fortune et al., 2010, p. 30 . It is rare for women living with criminalization to exit prison with a supportive family network in the community Maidment, 2005, p. 191 . While imprisoned, women often form supportive relational networks that reduce isolation and increase feelings of self worth Pollack, 2004, pp. 701 702 . This type of informal peer support is consistently recognized as an important empowering support to counter harmful misconceptions and coercive prison dynamics p. 703 . Both informal and formal peer support can reduce isolation and improve the communit re entr process Reingle Gonzalez et al., 2019, p. 1873 . Lived experience is a valuable asset for building rapport and credibility, as well as addressing practical needs p. 1872 . Peer mentors also tend to benefit the experience can be incredibly rewarding and supportive of their own recovery pp. 1868, 1872 . However, the non association parole condition is a major barrier to this support women are absurdl expected to start over with their social relationships and often become completely isolated Turnbull Hannah Moffat, 2009, p. 543 . Photo by: Amy Moir SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 25 ADDITIONAL BARRIERS Women reintegrating into the community unfortunately face an extensive amount of challenges. Some, such as healthcare, substance use, and isolation have been discussed above. However, there are a few others that are important to address. Ananthaswamy, Douglas, 2018 EDUCATION AND EMPLO MENT Many women who have experienced criminalization have not had the opportunities to pursue higher education or employment opportunities due to the various barriers they have faced in their lives. For example, of provinciall sentenced and of federall sentenced women do not have a high school diploma CAEFS, 2013a . Similarly, women who have been criminalized tend to cycle between low paying jobs or unemployment as of provinciall sentenced and of federall sentenced women were unemplo ed at the time of their arrest CAEFS, 2013a . There is also an extreme lack of educational or vocational upgrading opportunities in prison Bergseth et al., 2011, p. 102 . Women who are then released often struggle to find work due to their lack of experiences and criminal record, which makes securing other necessities like housing, food, and healthcare even more challenging. Gaining emplo ment is often cited as one of the most stressful aspects of reintegration for women SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 26 ADDITIONAL BARRIERS HOUSING The challenge of finding safe adequate and affordable housing once released from prison is one of the most crucial needs for women. Housing can be quite challenging to find due to issues associated with the high cost of living, zero tolerance for substances, the stigma associated with a criminal record, and lack of employment credit scores past references Bergseth et al., 2011, pp. 102 103 . Unstable and unsafe housing often leads women and their children to experience homelessness Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 66 . Which in turn exacerbates other existing concerns such as mental and physical health, substance use, and the possibility of re offending. These challenges create a c cle in a woman s life that is often incredibl difficult to break out of which is why a recovery house is so vital to supporting women who have experienced criminalization. SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 27 ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TRANSPORTATION Transportation poses yet Women who have another challenge for experienced criminalization often women who have been experience man other la ers of criminalized. Typically, social control. Listed below are women experiencing just a few examples of agencies criminalization rely on that women may have weekly public transportation in contact with: order to travel to work, appointments, and other hospitals medical clinics, important places. Public counselling, transportation can pose a substance use support, variety of difficulties. First, intimate partner violence bus passes can be price support, especially for women child welfare, alread experiencing parole offices, povert shelters, Second, public transportation is often food banks, unreliable and among many others. inconvenient Often, these agencies are scattered across a city. When women have to use public transportation to access all of these services, the task becomes extremel time consuming and exhaustive More time and effort is spent on getting to these places rather than receiving support from them. Bus schedules are also notoriously unreliable, making women late to appointments through no fault of their own. The problem is only exacerbated when agencies turn away women and refer them elsewhere. This can cause women to feel alone unsupported and as a result the can fall through the gap in service SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 28 ADDITIONAL BARRIERS STIGMA The stigma that is attached to time in prison is often a major barrier in a woman s abilit to reintegrate into the communit . Rose and Clear 2002 attribute stigma and community judgement as one of the largest barriers to successful re entry as cited in Fortune et al., 2010, p. 23 . Women will typically take one of four approaches to dealing with the shame that a community can place upon them, these include: trying to change people's opinions, ignoring the stigma and moving on, isolating themselves, or moving to a new community and starting fresh Rose Clear, 2002, as cited in Fortune et al., 2010, p. 23 . Australian Psychological Society, n.d. Stigma often causes decreased sociali ation and reduced opportunities Fortune et al., 2010, p. 23 . Some examples of this are, being passed over for a job, being mistreated at a doctor s appointment, and losing friendships. All of these experiences are caused b stigma and further isolates women and leaves them in a vulnerable position SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI 29 ATION ADDITIONAL BARRIERS PAROLE Finally, as mentioned previously, parole conditions create a massive barrier for women re integrating. Turnbull and Hannah Moffat 2009 discuss how parole conditions are enforced to further control and repress women p. 533 . Kilty and DeVellis 2010 write about the definition of counter law, which is the criminali ation of non criminal acts. For example, women released on parole often must abide by strict conditions in order to not re offend . Examples of these conditions Through counter law acts that are not normall criminal, such as being late to curfew, are thus criminali ed and risk women being include: being employed, re incarcerated These residing at a half way house, conditions are intended not associating with individuals who hold a criminal record, being home at a certain time, avoiding certain places such as bars or casinos, attending mandated treatment, and taking prescribed medications Kilty DeVellis, 2010, p. 140 Turnbull p. 535 . Hannah Moffat, 2009, to control women and shape them into law abiding citi ens, however, in reality they often just increase barriers and the rate of recidivism SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI 30 ATION IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS OLDER Aging women who have been OMEN Community reintegration is criminalized experience ageism challenging for all women coming discrimination and health issues just as out of prison, but for older the aging population outside of the women who have often spent criminal justice system does. However, many years incarcerated, this incarceration accelerates the aging challenge is even greater Shantz process and as a result, health issues, Frigon, 2009, p. 13 . Challenges mobility issues, and isolation concerns are such as emplo ment finances magnified Shantz Frigon, 2009, p. 4 . transportation and housing are While older women are at an increased just as present in older women s risk of health challenges and isolation, lives as ounger women and can little is done in the prison or in the be even more difficult for them to community to meet the unique needs of navigate Shants this population Shantz p. 4 . 4. Frigon, 2009, p. Frigon, 2009, All women, but particularly older women, who have been criminalized need access to care and support that is comprehensive and takes into account barriers such as age, health status, and mobility. SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 31 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TRANS* To begin it is important to note we have chosen to use the term trans with an asterisk placed on the end to acknowledge and respect all the variety of identities under the umbrella of trans, such as people who identif as transgender gender fluid non binar and other identities Although trans* women do not represent a large portion of inmates, they are often disproportionatel targeted and victimi ed Due to transphobia, trans* women have an increased likelihood to experience violence throughout their life and to come into contact with the criminal justice system Sevelius Jenness, 2017, pp. 32 33 . They are also far more likely to experience fragmented healthcare and complex health challenges than cisgender inmates Sevelius Jenness, 2017, p. 33 . Access to hormones and gender affirming healthcare is rare in both the prison and the community for trans* women who have been criminalized Sevelius Jenness, 2017 . OMEN Healthcare and other services are often not a safe place for trans* women who experience misgendering probing questions and judgement on a regular basis. Gender affirming healthcare is extremely important for all trans* women as it has shown to increase qualit of life improve mental health increase motivation for self care and improve ph sical health Sevelius Jenness, 2017, p. 34 . Trans* women in shelters and housing programs also experience disproportionate discrimination, often based upon whether they present as more masculine or feminine Lyons et al., 2016, p. 375 . This discrimination comes from fellow residents and the staff themselves, which has shown to make trans* women feel unsafe and unwelcome Lyons et al., 2016, p. 376 . The debate about trans* women being included in women only spaces extends from prison to shelters to transitional housing. This creates barriers for trans* women to receive support in prison and the community and can make trans* women feel unwelcome and misunderstood everywhere they go to seek help. SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI ATION 32 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS COVID-19 The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 due to the novel coronavirus Hyshka et al., 2020, p. 14 . The COVID 19 pandemic has illuminated great disparities related to the social determinants of health and structural inequities, particularly for women experiencing criminalization who have been disproportionately impacted Ramaswamy et al., 2020, p. 4 . Women living with criminali ation are among the most vulnerable due to the prevalence of health risks, complex trauma, mental health challenges, substance use, and their lack of resources p. 1 . Not only are women who have been criminalized at higher risk of contracting the virus, but they are also extremel disadvantaged b pandemic precautions. Women relying on research participation for monetary incentives and social connection reported becoming isolated and without income when COVID 19 prevented research opportunities Ramaswamy et al., 2020, p. 2 . Unstable living conditions interfere with their ability to follow the recommended practices, such as physical distancing p. 2 . Women living in recovery style housing were forced to isolate in their rooms their supportive programs abruptly stopped, exacerbating mental health concerns and also suddenly burdening some with 24 7 child care p. 3 . For mothers with child welfare involvement, the pandemic intensified the pain of being separated from their children supervised visits stopped and court cases were delayed p. 4 . Pre existing barriers to health care and harm reduction services were intensified, which created additional challenges for women living with criminalization as they often already experience poor health care Hyshka et al., 2020, p. 19 . Barriers to employment have also been worsened the many women previously experiencing unemployment are now further disadvantaged Ramaswamy et al., 2020, p. 4 . The pandemic also further emphasized the importance of safe, secure housing, those experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerabilit face extreme risk Tsai Wilson, 2020, p. 186 . 33 SECTION 2: OMEN E PERIENCING CRIMINALI Figure 1: Summary of Section 2 ATION 34 SECTION 3 RECOVER HOUSING This Section What is Recovery Housing? Examples of Recovery Housing Housing First Tensions in Implementing Recovery Housing Considerations for a Successful Recovery House SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING 35 HAT IS RECOVER HOUSING? Recovery housing refers to secure housing for women who have been criminalized and may face challenges such as having children, experiencing child welfare involvement, living with racism, abuse, substance use and/or mental health issues. This phase of housing follows shorter termed transitional housing, post release, and will support the women to work towards independent housing (West, 2019). The need to provide a recovery house is critically important, homelessness and incarceration are connected bidirectionally and entrap women in a cycle (Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 64). As previously discussed, survival concerns will be prioritized over health and social needs when women are without stable and supportive housing (p. 66). The transitional risks women experience, such as relapse into substance use, poor health, and recidivism as a survival mechanism will be mitigated by providing a recovery house (p. 70). SECTION 3: RECOVER E HOUSING 36 AMPLES OF RECOVER HOUSING The literature review revealed different terms used to describe recovery housing, such as secondary or second stage housing, transitional housing, and supportive housing. An exact model of the housing being conceptualized for women experiencing criminalization with the Kamloops District Elizabeth Fry Society was not located, however, through analyzing different styles of recovery housing important tensions and considerations emerged. Although the following examples are not identical to the recovery house envisioned in this report, they reflect similar structures and goals and may inform the development of the recovery house. The Vivian- Vancouver The Vivian is a three story building that provides fully accessible housing to a maximum of 24 women, the program was designed by women, for women and prides itself on being trans* inclusive (The Vivian, 2020). Women living at the Vivian typically stay for an average of 16 22 months and often live with substance use, have histories of and are at high risk of violence, benefit from mental and physical health care, and have experienced long term housing instability (Scott, 2013, pp. 4 5 ). The program follows a harm reduction philosophy and supports the women in their own self identified goals by providing information, resources, and services (The Vivian, 2020; Scott, 2013, p. 4). Problematically, mental health crisis response is not available 24/7 at The Vivian, which has indicated the need for a fully integrated system response (Scott, 2013, p. 6). SECTION 3: RECOVER E HOUSING 37 AMPLES OF RECOVER HOUSING Sorella-Vancouver Phyllis Haslam Residential Program-Toronto Sorella is a ten storey building that contains 108 units and offers indefinite housing to women and their children. (Atria Women s Resource Society, 2019). Safety for the women is a primary feature, staff are available 24/7, and the women are supported through resource referrals as well as in house group programming (Atria Women s Resource Society, 2019). The building contains amenities such as gardens, computers, a playground, a kitchen, and a library (Sagert, 2017, p. 18). The Phyllis Haslam Residential Program provides housing exclusively to women on parole from provincial or federal prison with a maximum capacity of 14, as well as two satellite apartments (Central East Health Line, 2019; Elizabeth Fry Toronto, n. d.). The program is staffed 24/7 and supports women regarding their education, employment, family reunification, and community re entry needs (Central East Health Line, 2019; Elizabeth Fry Toronto, n. d.). (Photo by: Amy Moir) SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING 38 Figure 2: Impact of Recovery Housing This infographic depicts the vicious cycle women get caught in and demonstrates the role the recovery house could play in breaking the cycle. The green arrow signifies the breaking of the cycle and indicates growth towards positive change. SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING 39 HOUSING FIRST Housing First is a housing approach with the philosophy that every human deserves adequate, affordable, and suitable housing with no preconditions (Gaetz et al., 2013, pp. 2, 10). (Cooperation Jackson, n. d.) Research has proven that people achieve greater success if they are housed and have their needs met with supportive services (Gaetz et al., 2013, p. 2). The approach was first introduced in Canada in the 1970s and is often compared to the treatment first approach, which has historically been the standard (pp. 2 3). Treatment first follows the housing readiness philosophy, people are typically expected to comply with treatment for mental health and abstain from substances (p. 2). This approach creates many barriers and implies that some are more deserving of housing than others. Housing First affirms that housing is a fundamental human right and should be free of restrictive stipulations (Kirkby Mettler, 2016, p. 120). SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING 40 HOUSING FIRST The core principles of Housing First emphasize choice, self determination, individualized recovery, and community integration (Gaetz et al., 2013, pp. 5 6). These values align with the needs of women experiencing criminalization who have exited prison; empowering services that centre self determination are incredibly important since the criminal justice system exerts extreme control (Maidment, 2005, p. 86). Housing First also affirms that women experiencing criminalization have the ability to define their own goals, therefore services should be designed to support their unique recovery needs (Tsemberis, 2010, p. 43). In addition to Housing First, a women centred framework is essential to account for contextual factors and validate the intersectionality of women s lives through integrated service delivery in a safe, supportive environment, where she controls her choices and space (Kirkby Mettler, 2016, pp. 116 117). It has been argued that the Housing First model may not be beneficial for women who have lived through trauma and abuse, however if adjusted to the specific needs of women experiencing criminalization to incorporate privacy, control, and safety, the model has been repeatedly identified as best practice (Fotheringham et al, 2014, p. 847). (Photo by: Amy Moir) SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING TENSIONS OMEN-ONL Given that the majority of women living with criminalization have also survived violence perpetrated by men, a women only building will be critical for increasing a sense of safety (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 40). Although feelings of safety are crucial for all the women, a women only building would prevent some from benefiting from the support of their male partners or older male children (p. 40). This may also create additional barriers for trans* women, who have a wide range of gender expression and could face discrimination from both the women residents and housing staff (Lyons et al., 2016, p. 376). 41 SECTION 3: RECOVER 42 HOUSING TENSIONS SAFET AND SURVEILLANCE The balance between safety and surveillance is a particularly important tension to consider as this will influence whether the recovery house will contribute to the expansion of the carceral net or break the cycle of transcarceration and instead promote empowerment (Kilty DeVellis, 2010, p. 137). Due to the pervasiveness of violence in the lives of many women experiencing criminalization, it is extremely important for the recovery house to be a secure building that will promote a sense of safety (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 41). Although it is critical to ensure safety aspects are in place to protect the women, careful attention should be paid to avoid the replication of the prison environment. Safety features may include twenty four hour surveillance in the form of cameras both inside and outside, alarms on doors and windows, intercoms, peepholes in the women s doors, and locks on main and private doors (p. 41). Although arguably necessary for safety, these features may also undermine the women s autonomy and sense of control, while impeding goals of independence and self determination (Parsell, 2016, p. 3196; Parsell et al., 2015, p. 1206). Visitor policies may also be experienced as intrusive, forcing women to sign in their visitors could be considered a breach of privacy as this creates a record of the identity and frequency of people visiting (Parsell, 2016, p. 3196). Women living with criminalization are already subjected to relentless scrutiny without further surveillance in their housing, Pollack (2007) revealed the demeaning practice of requiring women to disclose the details of their personal relationships so their parole officers can determine whether they are acceptable (p. 166). SECTION 3: RECOVER HOUSING 43 TENSIONS Kilty and DeVellis (2010) refer to living documents , which are detailed profiles of women s daily lives and may include activities within and beyond housing such as where the women are at all hours, employment, chores, medication, suspected substance use, social interactions, and their physical and mental health (p. 147). This extreme documentation is generally left to the discretion of housing staff who often record unverified suspicions; this becomes another means of monitoring and controlling women s lives (p. 147). A concerning implication is how these files create a legal archive that may be subpoenaed and used to demonstrate non compliance with parole conditions (p. 147). When staff have dual roles of support and social control, trust and confidentiality are completely undermined (Pollack, 2009, p. 87). If the recovery house staff are accountable to CSC, the women they support will not be able to be open and honest about their experiences and challenges without risking increased surveillance or return to prison (p. 93). Some women in Pollack s study experienced surveillance in the community as worse than jail , the way women living with criminalization are supervised and controlled in the community heightens exclusion (pp. 88, 93). The surveillance forced upon women experiencing criminalization is justified through parole narratives of risk; a major assumption is if women occupy risky spaces such as gambling and liquor establishments, they will engage in criminal behaviour again (Turnbull Hannah Moffat, 2009, p. 544). Framing women living with parole as unequipped to make their own decisions contradicts the correctional discourse that they are individually responsible for their reintegration (p. 544). As a consequence of transcarceration, women experiencing criminalization in the community are denied agency much like women in prison, through surveillance and control tactics (Kilty DeVellis, 2010, p. 155). 44 SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING TENSIONS Where the recovery house is located within Kamloops will impact the women s well being (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 45). A downtown location is generally recommended as it decreases barriers to accessing necessary services, such as lack of transportation (p. 45). However, a resource hub based model along with integrated support services within the house itself would eliminate the need for a convenient downtown location. If located downtown women may feel unsafe, particularly at night, due to the heightened risk of encountering drug activity, sexual assault, and/or mugging (p. 43). Feelings of personal safety for the women, especially women with children, may be promoted with a location further from downtown in a residential neighbourhood, which can also alleviate social exclusion (Walsh et al., 2010, pp. 42, 45). LOCATION Additional challenges will be created for mothers with children, older women, and women with limited mobility if located near hills and a lack of sidewalks (BC Housing, 2012, p. 13). Having an address in what is considered a good area (not the lowest income neighbourhoods) can positively influence the women s self concept and reputation within Kamloops, which will impact their recovery and reintegration (p. 42). However, the development of the recovery house in a desirable residential area is likely to be met with resistance originating from the not in my backyard sentiments (p. 45). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 45 TENSIONS SINGLE SITE VS. SCATTERED SITE Single site, also commonly referred to as congregate or project based housing, is a setting in which all the women would be housed within one building. Each woman would have a private unit, but bathrooms, common spaces, and a kitchen would likely be shared (Owczarzak et al., 2013, p. 3). This style of housing usually has integrated social and health supports, some with twenty four seven availability (Parsell et al., 2015, p. 1190). In a scattered site model, units would be rented in private rental markets, with capacity typically limited to a maximum of 20 percent in any building (Gaetz et al., 2013, p. 10; Tsemberis, 2010, p. 45). There are benefits and challenges associated with each model of housing that will influence the impact and experience of the recovery housing project. A women centred approach would provide choice to accommodate women's preferences (Kirkby Mettler, 2016, p. 127). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING S S B S Onsite Support: Services can be delivered more efficiently (Gaetz et al., 2013, p. 11). Community/Social Inclusion: With all the women living under one roof, a sense of community can be promoted and the women will benefit from a social network of women with shared experiences (Parsell et al., 2015, pp. 1191 1192). Safety: A single building may be more secure (Parsell et al., 2015, p. 1191). S 46 S B Community Integration: Scattered site is indistinguishable and more effective at facilitating reintegration and community inclusion (Tsemberis, 2010, p. 47). Increased Choices: Women may be able to choose their preferred neighbourhood and/or building (Tsemberis, 2010, p. 45). S C Stigmatizing: The address is likely to become well known and cause the women to experience further marginalization in Kamloops, which could create even more barriers to reintegration, such as applying for jobs (Collins et al., 2012, p. 116). Privacy: Women may be concerned about privacy, which could influence their use of the supportive services (Owczarzak et al., 2013, p. 10). Triggers: Being in close proximity to substance use and women who have custody or visits with children may be problematic (Tsai et al., 2010, p. 4). S S C Reduced Support: Fewer opportunities for the women to interact and develop relationships with staff (Nelson, 1997, as cited in Owczarzak et al., 2013, pp. 2 3). Isolation: Women will have less interaction with each other, therefore the sense of community and benefits of a supportive social network would be reduced (Tsai et al., 2010, p. 4). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 47 TENSIONS SUBSTANCE USE AND HARM REDUCTION Given the prevalence of substance use in the lives of women experiencing criminalization, it is imperative this health care need be addressed in the recovery house (Pollack, 2009, p. 92). Women living with criminalization have identified avoiding substances once released from prison as a major challenge (Pollack, 2008, p. 22). The lack of support, stigmatization, and barriers to childcare and employment all contribute to women s feelings of shame and powerlessness, thus increasing the possibility of substance use as a coping strategy (p. 22). It is crucial to provide a confidential supportive space with autonomy from CSC to begin to adequately support women experiencing problematic substance use (Pollack, 2009, p. 92). Complete abstinence is a common parole condition policed by drug testing; this dehumanizing practice is accepted since women living with parole are framed as unable to self govern and make rational choices (Turnbull Hannah Moffat, 2009, pp. 540 541). This condition creates a considerable barrier to gaining support; as previously discussed, the integration of support and social control prevents trust and punishes women who are transparent about their substance use by sending them back to prison for disclosing a parole violation (Pollack, 2008, p. 23). Pate (2011) illuminates how preposterous it is to demand that women experiencing criminalization completely abstain from substances that dull the pain of their histories of abuse, poverty, and extreme marginalization (p. 4). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 48 TENSIONS Harm reduction centres decreasing health and social harms associated with substance use through specific policies and services, such as supervised injection (Poole et al., 2010, p. 2). The approach recognizes substance use as complex and multifaceted and seeks to meet people where they are at through empowering supports relevant to individual needs (HRC, 2012). Harm reduction has been consistently recognized as beneficial cost effective, and based on the strongest available evidence (IHRA, 2010). Following Housing First, it is imperative that abstinence not be a precondition for housing; it has been found that providing housing can facilitate a reduction of substance use as housing can provide motivation to increase one s sense of control (Collins et al., 2012, p. 115). The privacy and control over physical and social environments that would occur in the recovery house have been identified as essential elements for maintaining abstinence. (Owczarzak et al., 2013, p. 11). Harm reduction programs such as a managed alcohol programme will not only decrease the harmful effects of substance use but also increase contact with staff who can provide micro interventions such as check ins regarding substance use and overall well being (Collins et al., 2012, p. 115). Therefore, this approach will also address mental health concerns and support women regarding their social needs (Kirkby Mettler, 2016, p. 119). (Recovery Research Institute, n. d.) Despite the overwhelming evidence for harm reduction, the challenges likely to emerge from implementing this approach in the recovery house must be considered. Avoidance is a common strategy that exacerbates social isolation women may hesitate to form relationships out of fear of jeopardizing their abstinence (Owczarzak et al., 2013, p. 11; Severance, 2004, pp. 90 – 91). Women with children will be impacted, a mother living in Sorella felt uncomfortable with the proximity of harm reduction facilities to her child s living space (Sagert, 2017, p. 25). Women may experience feeling unsafe and/or uncomfortable if they perceive other women are using substances in the recovery house (Parsell et al., 2015, p. 1203). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 49 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSE The goal of the recovery house is to provide a safe, supportive home and community for women to recover from their trauma. Before women can begin to address their health and social needs, they must first have their basic needs met (Ahmed et al., 2016, p. 68). The recovery house should facilitate the reclamation of control and independence after or during a period of utter powerlessness (Kirst et al., 2014, p. 6). An important consideration for a successful recovery house is to implement a community driven model, which centres meaningful collaboration with women with lived experience in the planning process (Nelson et al., 2016, p. 185). It is critical for women most affected by criminalization to have a role in planning and decision making, as the recovery house is being designed for them (p. 185). Collaboration with lived experience promotes community empowerment, ownership, relationships, and social justice (p. 185). It s been found that organizing consultation sessions with women with lived experience, hiring them for positions, offering training for the women in research, service provision, and governance, and having clearly defined roles, are effective ways to achieve meaningful collaboration (p. 191). It also important to ensure there is enough time to establish trust since it can be challenging to overcome potential decades of discrimination, abuse, suspicion, and mistrust (p. 191). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 50 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSE As previously highlighted as a major tension, it is crucial to ensure that staff providing counselling have separate roles from case management or support staff and are not accountable to CSC (Kirkby Mettler, 2016, p. 120). This will create safe spaces for women to benefit from counselling and avoid risking their tenancy. As well, if a woman loses her housing she can remain connected to her counsellor who can provide support for obtaining other housing and resources; and she won t be subjected to further health care fragmentation (p. 120). (Photo by: Amy Moir) Relationships between women and service providers are of particular importance as many women living with criminalization do not benefit from familial support (Maidment, 2005, p. 191; Owczarzak et al., 2013, p. 4). Owczarzak et al. (2013) found the most important form of support in recovery housing to be the support of staff who maintain relationships and ensure needs are met, rather than any specific type of programming (p. 9). It is essential to foster positive, supportive, trusting relationship development since these types of relationships often contain a level of mistrust due to the historical and perpetual harm women experience at the hands of professionals (Maidment, 2005, p. 196). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 51 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSE Having the time to recover, rest, heal, rebuild, and plan has been identified as an imperative element to promote women s healing (Fotheringham et al., 2014, p. 843). Meaningful relationship development between women and between women and staff will be nurtured with non restricted time (p. 848). Therefore the recovery house should not have a prescribed limit on the length of stay; instead, women should be supported with their individual needs and control the timeline of their unique recovery process. This time must also be accompanied by a safe, supportive environment, access to 24/7 support, resources, and counselling (p. 848). 24 hour support is critical; a woman in Fotheringham et al. s study expressed the necessity of knowing someone is there for her at any time, another woman also appreciated being able to speak to someone in the middle of the night if she could not sleep (pp. 842 – 843). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 52 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSE The physical space of the recovery house should be carefully designed to be beneficial and not create more challenges (Fotheringham et al., 2014, p. 843). Each woman should have a private room for herself and her children if applicable; this can provide autonomy and a sense of control in contrast to the near constant exposure when incarcerated (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 40). A sense of safety may be decreased if women can hear noise from other suites, so it is important to consider how sound proof the house is (Sagert, 2017, p. 22). Aesthetically pleasing and comforting design aspects are valuable for avoiding the replication of an institution; these may include brightly painted walls, furniture in good condition, the ability to personalize space with decorations, plants, paintings and pictures, soft and natural lighting, and the option to have a companion animal (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 42). Incorporating natural elements inside promotes wellbeing and is particularly important for women with limited mobility as they may benefit from passive associations with nature when they cannot spend time outdoors (Sagert, 2017, p. 28). Accessibility for older women, women with young children, and women living with disabilities must be considered; for instance, elevators and ramps will increase accessibility (Walsh et al., 2010, p. 41). SECTION 3: RECOVERY HOUSING 53 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSE Although privacy is vital for promoting a sense of control, the previously discussed concern regarding isolation within a single unit must be considered (Kirst et al., 2014, p. 6).There is a difference between solitude and isolation; it is important for women to know their neighbours and be able to connect with them (Fotheringham et al., 2014, p. 845). A lack of or restricted communal space will limit the women s opportunities to experience community and form supportive social networks (p. 848). Flexibility of space is key to remain relevant long term; if common areas are changeable with moveable barricades, the recovery house will be able to adapt to specific needs as women come and go from the house over time (Sagert, 2017, p. 8). Flexible space can accommodate women s needs; common areas can open up for larger group events or barricades can be used to create private spaces for women seeking solitude (p. 13). Finding a balance between social and private areas with very clear boundaries can promote a sense of security (p. 13). (Photo by: Amy Moir) The recovery house is fundamental for supporting women with rebuilding their lives. It will provide security and allow women to focus on other domains of their lives such as their health and social needs, rather than purely survival concerns (Kirst et al., 2014, pp. 4 – 5). It must be designed in a way that instills hope; one aspect that can offer a sense of freedom and self reliance is simply providing each woman with her own door key (p. 5). The ultimate goal of the recovery house is to break the cycle of transcarceration by empowering women and providing them with the necessary resources and support to begin another journey. 54 SECTION 4 RESOURCE HUBS This Section What is a Resource Hub? What are some Examples of a Hub? Benefits and Complications of a Hub Considerations for a Successful Hub SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 55 WHAT IS A RESOURCE HUB? Resource hubs also known as community hubs, service hubs, or multi agency hubs are becoming an increasingly popular way to meet the needs of a community or a certain population. As each community is unique and diverse, no t o h b models are the same At its most simple, a hub model is the formation of multiple agencies under one roof. At its most complex, a hub model is the complete integration of services into one seamless deli er for the service user. In her research into community hubs, Romeril 2014 outlines 5 different types of hub models: net orking co location cooperation collaboration and integration p. 3 . Each type poses various benefits and challenges, and some will work better than others, depending upon the community or population. A more thorough look at the five types is outlined below in figure 2. For the purpose of this report, we will be analyzing mainly the benefits and challenges of the collaboration and integration models of practice. WHAT ARE SOME E AMPLES OF A HUB? Foundry, British Columbia SORCe, Alberta MASH, United Kingdom headspace, Australia SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 56 Questions to ask when designing a hub model 1. "What are we aiming to achieve together that we cannot do individually?" 2. "Who do we want to benefit?" 3. "Are we able to dedicate the resources required to develop a hub capable of delivering those benefits?" Romeril, 2014, p. 1 Figure 3: Types of Hub Models SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 57 EXAMPLES OF RESOURCE HUBS Resource hubs are quickly gaining popularity across Canada and in other countries as ways to holisticall address the needs of a comm nit or pop lation CANADA INTERNATIONALL An example of a resource hub right here in British Columbia is the organization Fo ndr . Foundry brings together health care and social ser ices nder one roof to support youth 12 24 years old Foundry Who We Are , 2019 . There are multiple locations across BC including Kelowna, Vancouver, and Victoria Foundry Find a Foundry Centre , 2020 . An international example of a resource hub is MASH. The goal of MASH Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub is to s pport children and keep them safe thro gh the collaboration bet een agencies Shorrock et al., 2019, p.3 . Typically, agencies involved within a MASH are police services, health care, social workers, and child welfare Shorrock et al., 2019, p.3 . There are numerous MASH sites throughout England, and they have been shown to provide a safety net to at risk children Shorrock et al., 2019, p. 3 . Another Canadian example of a resource hub is the organization SORCe in Calgary, Alberta. SORCe Safe Communities Opportunities and Resource Centre works with indi id als e periencing homelessness to red ce barriers in their li es SORCe What is SORCe? , n.d. . SORCe is a collaboration between multiple agencies in Calgary co located together. Some examples of agencies partnered with SORCe are Alberta Health Services, the YWCA, and the Child Advocacy Centre, among many others SORCe Who is SORCe? , n.d. . A second international example is the foundation headspace in Australia. headspace is an organization that aims to be a one stop shop for adolescents headspace Who We Are , n.d. . There are over 100 locations in Australia and these centres aim to meet the needs of youth through services catered towards mental health, physical sexual health, and substance use headspace Who We Are , n.d. . SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 58 Throughout Canada and across the world, resource hubs are gaining pop larit as a a to better s pport indi id als and strengthen the social safet net. There are many examples of resource hubs in Canada and elsewhere that, through an analysis of their policies and procedures, can help inform the basis of a h b here in Kamloops The following sections will detail the benefits and challenges to a hub model, as well as important considerations for success. Lux, 2018 SORCe, n.d. Dproberts81, 2010 States of Jersey Police, n.d. SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 59 BENEFITS OF A HUB MODEL Resource hubs have numerous Hub models have also been found benefits for the service users, the to reduce the number of empty or staff, and the community as a whole. repeat referrals, and avoid the siloing Resource hubs are ideally a one of services across agencies Home stop shop for service users to access Office, 2013, pp. 4 5 . support and services holistically. This reduces barriers associated with transportation because service users can have their needs met all in one place. Hubs are also beneficial to service users because, since information is shared through the agencies at the hub, there is no need to constantly re tell their story of incarceration, red cing possible re tra mati ation Due to the holistic nature of the hub, every agency is tasked to do what they do best and no agency will operate outside their scope of practice. Comm nit ser ice agenc and ser engagement are impro ed through a hub model and information sharing is strengthened Home Office, 2013, p. 5 . The wrap around style of service ensures that all the individual s needs are met and that no one falls through the gap. Finally, a hub model can potentially be financiall beneficial through the pooling of resources and the collaboration of ideas between agencies. Through a review of the literature, resource hubs emerge as a promising way to holistically and innovatively support women who have been criminalized. SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 60 COMPLICATIONS OF A HUB MODEL However, while there are multiple benefits to a hub model of practice, having multiple agencies under one roof can present a handful of challenges. In their research, Nelson et al. 2014 identified several challenges associated with multi agency working. Disorgani ation lack of comm nication bet een agencies and ndefined orking roles were commonly cited as reasons for workplace tensions Nelson et al., 2014, pp. 188 189 . As well as complaints over a lack of collaboration and no room for discussion over decision making Nelson et al., 2014, pp. 188 189 . Sometimes, the multiple opinions, visions, and ideas can lead to a clash of orkplace c lt res and a struggle of power dynamics Nelson et al., 2014, pp. 188 189 . Dynamic Team Solutions, n.d. Multiple agencies also identify and define things in different ways. For example, agencies may define the idea of successful reintegration differently, leading to a lack of clarit within the hub. High staff t rno er has also been identified as a common barrier to effective multi agency work Shorrock et al., 2019, p. 9 . Various IT systems have also been seen to be a contributor to a breakdo n in comm nication between agencies Crockett et al., 2013 , p. 51 . Finally, multiple researchers have found that confusion over confidentiality ie: what can and cannot be shared through the hub caused a lack of tr st amongst hub staff and perpetuated the siloing of services Shorrock et al., 2019, p. 11 . Although they can prove to be challenging to implement, hub models do provide important implications in supporting women who have been criminalized. However, through a review of the literature, several recommendations emerged to develop a hub successfully. The following section outlines these considerations. SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 61 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL HUB One of the most important considerations in creating a successful hub is the agreement on a shared goal and a clearl nderstood p rpose for the hub Nelson et al., 2016, p. 186 . Many articles agree on the necessity of agencies being on the same page and having a shared ision before engaging in designing the hub Carter et al., 2007, p. 532 Nelson et al., 2016, p. 186 . Due to the nature of a hub, there will be a variety of ideas, opinions, and goals, which is why clearly outlining the shared purpose is key. Another common recommendation is the creation of meas rable o tcomes from the start with on going e al ations to see if these outcomes are being met Saunders, 2016, p. 4 . This is to ensure that the hub is functioning as intended and is holistically supporting the service users. Resource hubs should be designed through a client centred approach, meaning that the needs of the service user should be at the centre of the hub s decision making process Saunders, 2016, p. 4 . On top of that, many of the articles state the importance of service users being co a thors of their care Salt et al., 2017, p. 22 . The importance of communication was also a common consideration. Comm nication between agencies should occur at all levels from frontline to CEO and should be clear and consistent Malachowski et al., 2019, p. 582 . Continuous communication between agencies in the hub improves collaboration and b ilds tr st, while also ensuring that all agencies have up to date information and are on the same page. This is also why co location is ke in the success of a hub. SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 62 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL HUB The point of a resource hub is to accomplish more as a team rather than as an individual agency. The strength and also the complication of a hub is the variety of ideas and opinions at the table. Ideally, this should be used to the hub s advantage. Hub s should strive to be collaborati e creati e and think o tside the bo for innovative ideas to serve the community Malachowski et al., 2019, p. 584 . Due to this collaborative environment, resource hub s should strive to have a fle ible ork c lt re. All agencies should have an equal say and be given space to share their thoughts and ideas about the hub. subpng, n.d. A developing hub can also benefit from implementing joint staff training Salt et al., 2017, p. 39 . This is because the more integrated and cohesive a hub is, the more effectively it works Salt et al., 2017, p. 39 . Since most individuals are not used to working in such an environment, training that specifically addresses how to work as a collaborative unit is key to effective partnerships Salt et al., 2017, p. 39 . On the same note, team bonding activities between agencies is often recommended as a way to develop trust between staff Horwath and Morrison, 2007, as cited in Crockett et al., 2013, p. 9 .When trust is developed, staff will gain a better understanding and respect of everyone s roles within the hub Nelson et al., 2016, p. 189 SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 63 CONSIDERATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL HUB Having multiple agencies under one roof can sometimes lead to confusion and disorganization. Because of this, it is of the utmost importance to have a structure to the hub with clear go ernance and designated roles to ensure organization and a uniformed process of decision making Nelson et al., 2015, p. 186 . It is also beneficial to consider designating a hub manager that is hired by the hub and not affiliated with any individual agency Home Office, 2013, p. 8 . Additionally, it is important to establish strict and clear g idelines regarding confidentialit to create understanding throughout the hub about what can and cannot be shared between staff Home Office, 2014, p. 13 . There is also a possibility of creating a shared risk assessment tool and merging IT databases to improve collaboration and cohesion Home Office, 2014, pp. 11 12 . Finally, the space itself is ke to a successful hub. The hub must feel in iting and safe for service users to access Salt et al., 2017, p. 35 . This can be created through the combination of open space and pri ate space. Since the hub will be used for a variety of purposes, this combination is important. The ho rs of the hub should also be accessible for individuals, many service users will not be able to access the hub during regular office hours and by only running the hub monday to friday from nine to five increases barriers that are already present in their lives Salt et al., 2017, p. 21 . SECTION 4: RESOURCE HUBS 64 CONCLUSION Overall, while hubs can present complications due to the abundance of ideas and opinions they are a creative and innovative wa to serve people who may otherwise fall through the gaps or not receive holistic support. Although there is no literature specifically regarding a resource hub for women who have been criminalized, hubs have been shown to effectively support other marginalized populations. We believe a hub would be a successful wa to support women experiencing criminali ation The next section outlines the specific recommendations we have compiled for both housing and hub models for women who have been criminalized. KE C S SIDE A I A Agreement on a shared goal and a clear purpose for the hub Implement and regulary evaluate outcomes The needs and desires of the service user should be at the centre Communicate clearly and consistently between agencies at all levels Utilize creativity, collaboration, and innovation The hub should be accessible, flexible, safe, and inviting. Make building trust (Eddy, 2019 SECTION 5 65 RECOMMENDATIONS This Section Recommendations for supporting women who have been criminalized including... Indigenous Women Healthcare Relationships Community Reintegration Additional Barriers Important Considerations Extras 66 SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS The goal of both the recover house and the resource hub is to eliminate as man barriers as possible in the lives of women who have been criminali ed In order to accomplish this, the recovery house and the resource hub should work collaborativel . However, although residents of the recovery house will be encouraged to access the resources of the hub, it will not be limited to only house resident use. We recommend that the resource hub is open to all women or women aligned people who have experienced criminali ation regardless of how long ago their sentence was. This is to ensure the environment is as inclusive as possible and not creating barriers instead of eliminating them. Healthcare Indigenous Women (Microsoft Office, n.d. Community Reintegration Relationships Additional Barriers Through a review of the literature, five common themes emerged concerning women who have been criminalized. These were the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in the criminal justice s stem fragmentation of healthcare for these women both mental and ph sical health the need to re negotiate relationships after incarceration the challenges of reintegrating into the communit and additional barriers that are present in their lives such as the struggle to find housing or emplo ment These five themes represent the largest areas of importance for women to receive support. The following recommendations are intended to mirror section two of this report Our conjoined recommendations are divided by theme. This is to ensure that the women utilizing the housing and hub are supported as holistically as possible. 67 SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS INDIGENOUS WOMEN As previously discussed, the disproportionately high number of Indigenous women imprisoned in Canada experience further discrimination and disadvantages within the prison system. CSC s homogenous cultural programming overlooks the many diverse Indigenous cultures, stripping Indigenous women s cultural identities to be replaced with a colonial version of Indigeneit Clifford, 2019, pp. 26 27 . It is important to recognize CSC will release Indigenous women into unfamiliar territories, far from their home communities, which contributes to the ongoing dislocation that typically begins in childhood through the child welfare system (pp. 63, 92 . To promote healing and cultural connectedness, we recommend the house and hub work collaboratively with Indigenous women to develop programs centred around their specific cultural needs. Indigenous women are the experts of their lives and have often had their voice silenced within institutions; the house and hub must approach the needs of Indigenous women with a decoloni ing philosoph and create space for Indigenous women to define their own needs and determine their own healing processes. Cultural connectedness, defined as knowledge and engagement with culture, has been found to promote mental wellness and support Indigenous people to thrive despite the colonization legacy (Snowshoe et al., 2017, p. 70 . We recommend the house and hub promote a balance between the mental emotional spiritual and ph sical quadrants of the medicine wheel since this is consistently recognized as a way to achieve holistic health and well being (Sasakamoose et al., 2016, p. 8 . Activities to support this balance may include mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga, expressive art, sun dance ceremonies, pow wows, sweat lodge ceremonies, pipe ceremonies, drumming groups, smudging, beading, singing, dancing, recreational sports, sweetgrass teachings, and prayer and storytelling circles (p. 8 . SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 68 INDIGENOUS WOMEN The First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework exemplifies how to improve culturally safe service coordination and address mental wellness for Indigenous people (Health Canada, 2015 . (Health Canada, 2015 SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 69 INDIGENOUS WOMEN The house and hub should have space for women to engage in religious and spiritual practices; we also recommend creating a specific space for smudging. The hub should include an Indigenous agency and both housing and hub policies should reflect Indigenous values and be anti oppressive. We recommend studying the Inclusive Support model used by Sisters Inside, a community organization in Australia, to inform the development of the model of service for the house and hub. Sisters Inside promote sharing power with the women they serve by affirming their authority to make decisions and being flexible with support. Implementing Inclusive Support values will benefit all women accessing the house and hub, but is of particular importance for deconstructing power and supporting Indigenous women who are among the most marginalized groups in Canada. Diversity of staff is crucial; staff that Indigenous women can relate to, and peer mentors with traditional backgrounds can positively impact the women s ability to connect in meaningful ways (Clifford, 2019, p. 83 . Corresponding with Indigenous communities is a key aspect; we recommend establishing a strong relational network to connect Indigenous women with Elders knowledge keepers ceremonial leaders and mentors (p. 92 . Return to traditional wisdom and culture can have a huge impact on breaking the c cle of transcarceration and intergenerational trauma (Walsh et al., 2012, pp. 46 48 . The most important component for supporting Indigenous women will likely be centring Indigenous knowledge and working towards decolonization by seeking direction and validation from Elders, knowledge keepers, and Indigenous women who have been criminalized (Sasakamoose et al., 2016, p. 7 . SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 70 HEALTHCARE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, TRAUMA Given the prevalence of mental Regarding serious mental health health challenges, substance use, and needs, we recommend offering an trauma for women experiencing assertive communit treatment criminalization and the inadequacy of approach; this style of intervention CSC s services, we urge the recovery is characterized by a house and resource hub to focus on multidisciplinary team with a shared developing trauma informed services caseload that delivers services in to address these needs. First and the community and has 24 hour foremost, we recommend the women availability (George et al., 2016, p. have choice and control over their 882 . Key aspects of this approach treatment plans; this is incredibly include involving women in their important since women are forced to treatment and respecting their endure treatment dictated by choices, a heavy focus on professionals while imprisoned and in therapeutic relationship the community as a result of development and social support transcarceration (Kilty, 2012, p. 172 . including peer support, realistic Correctional based therapy is expectations, and acknowledgment ineffective due to the coercive nature of power d namics (pp. 883 889 . of the prison environment; women tend to censor themselves out of well founded fear (pp. 176 177 . Comprehensive screening post release is an essential first step to support women s mental health needs due to the incomplete, fragmented mental health care within prisons and common experience of symptoms and diagnoses being brought on by the conditions of imprisonment (Maidment, 2005; Stanton et al., 2016 . (Social Work Career, n. d. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 71 HEALTHCARE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, TRAUMA The house and hub should offer on site group and individual counselling, including psychotherapy, trauma recovery process counselling, and feminist consciousness raising groups. It would be beneficial for the resource hub to include separate agencies that can deliver these types of counselling services for women who wish to separate their counselling from their involvement with the house and/or hub. Counselling should be anti oppressive in nature and provide alternative frameworks to reframe the correctional, pathological explanations of women s lives (Pollack, 2008, p. 31 . We also recommend collaborating with feminist informed trauma specialists to offer confidential sexual abuse counselling and incorporating communit sexual assault agencies within the hub (p. 21 . (Photo by: Amy Moir Women experiencing co occurring mental health and substance use often get left behind in the gap between two incomplete and incompatible treatment models; a comprehensive integrated health care approach can holisticall support sustainable recover (Schütz et al., 2013, p. 6 . An integrated model of care may include principles of strength based care, harm reduction, assertive treatment, and motivation based treatment (p. 2 . The approach should meet the women where they are at, tailor treatment to their current needs including withdrawal management ps chiatric care ps chosocial care and medical care emphasi e setting goals with the women and not contain time limits (p. 2 . To achieve comprehensive integrated care, a multidisciplinar team will be necessary and may include social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counsellors, and art and music therapists (p. 2 . SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 72 HEALTHCARE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, TRAUMA The house and hub should approach substance use with a harm reduction philosoph and incorporate an on site harm reduction facilit with medical staff who can assist women to use substances safely and treat women in the event of an overdose. The previously discussed irrelevance of interventions designed for men should be considered when developing substance use programming for women at the house and hub. Pollack (2008 recommends developing a holistic treatment model with a variet of treatment modalities including peer support, to increase understanding of the connections between substance use and trauma (p. 19 . We recommend choice in group or individual gender responsive interventions which connect structural violence to substance use, support women to develop a sense of self efficacy and safe coping skills, and focus on their strengths in an empowering environment (Sered Norton Hawk, 2011, pp. 310 311 . Finally, we recommend providing education such as brochures, posters, and workshops regarding mental health, substance use, and trauma to provide the opportunity for women to make informed decisions regarding their health. We also express the importance of ensuring continuity of care to avoid replicating the fragmented care women tend to experience in and out of prison. Women living with criminalization have been stripped of the dignity of controlling their health and treatment; the recovery house and resource hub must deconstruct power and empower women to regain control of their health and support plans. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 73 HEALTHCARE PH SICAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH Since women who have been criminalized tend to experience a disproportionate number of illnesses and experience fragmentation of healthcare between incarceration and community reintegration, we feel that including a ph sical and sexual health care component to the recover house and resource hub is of utmost importance Regarding the resource hub, the inclusion of a health agency such as Interior Health would be beneficial. This would enable members of the hub and recovery house to access doctor appointments on site and receive healthcare that is non judgemental comprehensive and trauma informed (Oxfam Canada, 2019 The inclusion of a pharmac within the hub could also be beneficial to help women access the medications they require, including hormones for trans* women. Other healthcare considerations that could be adopted by both the recovery house and the resource hub would be free access to sexual health care products such as pads tampons condoms and plan B, as well forming a partnership with a sexual health education agency that could host workshops on sexual health topics. These recommendations are important because physical and mental health are often some of the largest barriers present in a woman s reintegration experience and the inclusion of healthcare as a main component of the recovery house and resource hub is intended to break this barrier. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 74 RELATIONSHIPS The pain of being epara ed from heir child or children i of en ci ed a one of he mo challenging par of impri onmen Brennan, 2014, p. 12 . The need to re negotiate those fractured relationships after incarceration is also listed as a source of stress for women Lichtenwalter et al., 2010, p. 78 . Finally, navigating complex social services such as child welfare with no support is extremely complicated and difficult. Through a review of the literature, we have identified relationships, and mo her child rela ion hip pecificall a an area in need of ppor In terms of the resource hub, partnership with a famil herap clinic could be helpful. This o ld gi e omen he oppor ni o re nego ia e he e rela ion hip with the help of a therapist. Therap o addre he ra ma of in ima e par ner iolence i al o an impor an recommenda ion due to the fact many women who have been criminalized have past experience with violence in relationships. Another beneficial addition to the resource hub would be the incl ion of a child elfare ad oca e or a legal aid o a i omen in na iga ing he em and help them to advocate for visitations and custody of their children. Other relationship considerations for both the recovery house and the resource hub would be in en ional pace for famil i i a ion a pla area for children i i ing he h b or li ing a he ho e pri a e pace for ne mo her o brea feed and a da care componen In terms of friendships, peer mentors and community events are recommended to help foster connections between the women. These recommendations will be expanded upon in the community reintegration section below. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS COMMUNIT 75 REINTEGRATION Considering the potential supportive networks have to break the cycle of transcarceration and redefine how women see themselves, we believe fostering a sense of community is a critical aspect for both the recovery house and resource hub Pollack, 2009, p. 93 . Women have gained strength and power from mutually supportive recrea ional gro p i h comm ni ol n eer , which also increa ed heir en e of belonging and supported them to remain in the community Fortune et al., 2010, p. 30 . This type of group can also serve to build a compassionate understanding through leisure activities by allowing community members to recognize the women s humanity pp. 24 25 . This ultimately contributes to fostering safer communities for women living with criminalization; igma and m h are di pro en and a arene i pread by community volunteers who gain a new sense of respect and understanding pp. 24 25 . Therefore, we recommend the recovery house and resource hub host recreational groups with community volunteers to strengthen community reintegration. In line with promoting empowerment and independence, it is important to provide bo h formal and informal oppor ni ie for omen o b ild comm ni Fotheringham et al., 2014, p. 848 . Activities such as crafts, sports, games, and opportunities to display talents through coffee houses can promote relationship development and counter the loss of humanity women who have been criminalized often suffer Yuen et al., 2012, p. 289 . The house and hub should organize o door recrea ional ac i i ie such as hiking and swimming; this can connec omen o hope and promo e healing Walsh et al., 2012, p. 31 . Although criminal records block many opportunities, volunteering has been identified as a valuable activity that allows women to reclaim a positive sense of self and feel they can meaningfully contribute to the community Yuen et al., 2012, p. 291 . We recommend creating ol n eer oppor ni ie i hin he ho e and h b o fo er omen en e of elf or h and promo e comm ni rein egra ion. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS COMMUNIT 76 REINTEGRATION Through our review of the literature, peer support emerged as a key component for community reentry. Peer support proves that women who have been criminalized have skills, the ability to take on responsibilities, and are trustworthy Pollack, 2004, p. 703 . Peer mentor roles can include relationship development, support in reframing psychosocial beliefs engrained from the prison environment, arranging transportation and appointments, assistance with locating resources, and providing access to social networks Reingle Gonzalez et al., 2019, p. 1862 . As previously discussed, peer mentorship is beneficial for both the mentees and mentors; we recommend implementing a peer ppor program ha ppor omen o ad ance o a men or hip role if and when she desires pp. 1868, 1872 . We recommend peers are ma ched ba ed pon reng h and imilar li ed e perience ; to increase their ability to connect on a deeper level p. 1867 . Peer support programming is essential for achieving the goals of the recovery house and resource hub. Photo by: Amy Moir The collec i e reng h of omen can co n er e cl ionar force , facilitate community reintegration, and increase their sense of acceptance Fortune et al., 2010, p. 27 . It is crucial to ensure women are adequately supported in community reentry so prison does not feel like a safer alternative to the marginalization and isolation present in the larger community Yuen et al., 2012, p. 289 . SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 77 BARRIERS EDUCATION AND EMPLO MENT The struggle to find employment is a well documented stress in the life of a woman experiencing criminalization. Lack of ork e perience lack of higher ed ca ion and he igma of a criminal record are all fac or in a oman diffic l o find ork To help women in this area, a program such as emplo men coaching that helps women write resumes or cover letters and teaches them interview skills is strongly recommended. Educational and vocational upgrading opportunities are extremely limited in prison for women, because of this, women wanting to further their education are met with multiple barriers. For this reason, we recommend that the house or the hub incorporates ed ca ion and oca ional pgrading oppor ni ie , or at the very least, connections to resources in the community that offer this. Finally, Elizabeth Fry already runs a program called Lizzy s Closet which donates clothes to women who may be in need of clothes for a job interview or for a court appearance Our Services, Lizzy s Closet , n.d. . We think this is a wonderful program and recommended that it be implemented at both the hub and the recovery house. HOUSING The challenge o find afe affordable and able ho ing i ano her common re or The recovery house is envisioned to be a step in between a halfway house and fully independent living. I ill allo omen more freedom b ill offer ppor There will not be a time limit on how long a woman can live at the house, but when a woman feels she wants to settle into more independent living, there will be assistance at both the house and the hub for women to find permanent housing. E en af er omen ha e lef he reco er ho e he ill be enco raged o con in e acce ing he h b for holi ic ppor and re o rce SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 78 BARRIERS TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION Tran por a ion i ano her commonl ci ed barrier for omen ho ha e been criminali ed Bus passes can be expensive and taking the bus all over the city can become exhausting. To combat this challenge, free or reduced cost bus tickets should be available at the recovery house and the resource hub for all residents or members. This eliminates the financial barrier to transportation. However, the time barrier is still present. The goal of a re o rce h b i o ha e m l iple agencie pro iding in egra ed comprehen i e and holi ic care o elimina e he need for omen o ra el all aro nd he ci for help The resource hub would be a one stop shop for these women to access all their needs from social and community support to healthcare. We al o recommend ha he ho e and he h b ei her be righ ne o one ano her, or at the least easily accessible by walking or transit. The clo er he are o one ano her he more likel he ill be ed in collabora ion, which is the ultimate goal. STIGMA The igma of incarcera ion can become a large barrier for omen ho ha e been criminali ed Sometimes, women who have been incarcerated never feel fully welcomed back to the community. As stated in the community reintegration section, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities help to counter stigma Fortune et al., 2010; Yuen et al., 2012 . I i recommended ha he omen li ing a he reco er ho e and acce ing he re o rce h b are pro ided oppor ni ie o engage in he comm ni hro gh ol n eering ac i i ie and peer men or hip An idea to foster community development would be a coffee house night. The resource hub could host a coffee house in which women or community members could showcase talents music, poetry, artwork, etc and get to know one another. This would provide an opportunity for community members to learn about the recovery house and resource hub in a relaxed atmosphere and give women the opportunity to foster connections. This dialogue could help reduce stigma. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 79 BARRIERS PAROLE Navigating the complex ins and outs of the criminal justice system can be difficult for anyone. For women with a million other stressors finances, housing, children, healthcare it can be almost impossible. In order o help break he c cle of ocial con rol in a oman life e recommend he incl ion of a parole ad oca e in either the house or the hub. The parole advocate would help he oman na iga e he criminal j ice em appear i h her in co r if nece ar and ad oca e along ide her This person would not necessarily be her parole officer, rather, someone who understands the ins and outs of the criminal justice system and is commi ed o orking i h he omen from an an i oppre i e and femini per pec i e OTHER NEEDS The incorpora ion of a food bank i al o rongl recommended Many women who have been criminalized experience poverty and food insecurity. It is very likely that many women in the house and the hub are already accessing a food bank, incorpora ing i in o he ho e or he h b f r her elimina e a ran por a ion barrier and en re omen ill al a ha e food on heir able Similar to the criminal justice system, the welfare system is complex and confusing. We recommend he incorpora ion of a elfare ad oca e o help omen acce income a i ance acq ire ID and appl for ed ca ional oppor ni ie or permanen ho ing This role would help women with any questions they may have about navigating the welfare system and will ad oca e in collabora ion i h he omen for he omen SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 80 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS OLDER In order o pro ide care ha ppor all omen ho ha e been criminali ed in en ional con idera ion m be paid o older omen Through the literature, we have found that most often older women do better with one on one support. S aff ho ld be mindf l o in erac i h older re iden or member one on one and talk to them to see if they feel they are being supported holistically. Mobility concerns are also important to consider. The reco er ho e and he re o rce h b m be acce ible for all omen e peciall ho e i h limi ed mobili This means ensuring the house and the hub have features such as heelchair ramp ele a or braille heelchair acce ible a hroom and acce ible parking OMEN Older women also have increased isolation concerns so he incl ion of an older omen pecific gro p i recommended This could be a coffee group, knitting crafting group, aqua aerobics class, or anything else. A comm ni gro p r n b he h b ha i pecific o older omen ill help elimina e i ola ion concern Increased health concerns are also a commonly cited issue for older women, aff ho ld enco rage older omen o ili e he heal hcare a he h b Staff will be trained and knowledgeable about the most common health issues associated with older women who have been criminalized. SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 81 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TRANS* Regarding trans* women specifically, there are a few areas of importance for both the house and the hub. Fir an elf iden if ing oman or oman aligned indi id al ill be elcomed o he ho e and he h b regardle of heir e a igned a bir h We recognize transgender and gender variant women as women and believe it is of the utmost importance to create a space that is safe for them. In par ic lar he heal hcare hro gh he h b ill be gender affirming hi incl de manda or e of heir prono n acce o hormone and he op ion of referral if a pa ien an o p r e gender affirma ion rger OMEN Other staff are recommended to be trained in topics regarding trans* women, in particular, ho o in er ene if ran omen are e periencing ran phobia or di crimina ion from other staff or members of the house or hub. Some hing a imple a a rainbo or ran gender flag decal on he door of he ho e or h b ma eem imple and nimpor an b hi ignifie o ran omen or o her LGBTQ S omen ha i i a afe pace o come o Other simple recommendations to make the house and hub a safe place is to use incl i e lang age, no make a mp ion abo he omen, and o offer prono n on in ake form SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 82 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS COVID-19 The recovery house and resource hub must recognize how the on going COVID 19 pandemic exacerbates barriers and disproportionality affects women To keep the women safe, the living with criminalization. To house and hub must supply mitigate some of the impacts, the per onal pro ec i e eq ipmen house and hub need to provide and hand ani i er to the women women with adeq a e echnolog and he in erne to access the many and staff. Another strategy to promote the health and well being services being delivered remotely. of the women living in the house Since women may have to access some medical and psychiatry services and accessing the hub is to require dail elf a e men to through online platforms, i abili assure those coming in contact a e men and emergenc with others are symptom free. pro ocol for high risk situations, Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, such as suicide, should be implemented Wright Caudill, 2020, many services and agencies have moved online. There is a p. 2 . S ppor i h echnolog e possibility of introducing a ir al and na iga ing online er ice h b for women to access who may deli er should be available. not want to or be able to access services in person. In the event of a potential sudden increase in infection rate that overwhelms our community, it is imperative the house and hub can e abli h ne pro ocol immedia el . SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS E 83 TRAS As stated in the resource hub section, collaborations between agencies are an amazing opportunity to provide care that is innovative, creative, and outside the box of traditional support. Thro gh a re ie of he li era re man e ample of hi non radi ional care emerged. A few articles discussed the possibility of animals brought in for companionship and emotional support Kirst, 2014; Walsh, 2010 . A program that brings in animals such as cats, dogs, or birds weekly could provide the women in the house with a type of companionship that a human cannot provide. Animal a i ed ac i i ie AAA ha e been ho n o help indi id al i h men al illne b allo ing hem o pro ide care and lo e for ano her life Jasperson, 2010 . Incorporating animals into the house or the hub could be beneficial to women who are experiencing mental illness, trauma, or just would enjoy the company of a furry or feathered friend. E erci e i ano her al able ool for men al ellne Women may benefit from the inclusion of exercise space in the house or the hub and activities in the community that promotes wellness such as hiking or sports. Yoga in par ic lar ha been ho n o ha e a meaningf l impac on ph ical men al emo ional and piri al ellbeing b increa ing mindf lne and lo ering re Sasakamoose et al., 2016, p. 11 . The inclusion of a space for yoga could help many women accessing the hub or living in the house. SEC 5: EC E DA E The inclusion of a community garden and community kitchen could also be valuable additions ei he he h e he h b Greenspace has been identified several times as an important aspect of increasing feelings of comfort, he ef e if a c i ga de i a ai able h e la a e ec e ded Sage di c e h nature is a powerful tool to strengthen and maintain health and wellbeing A c i ga de i a l ha c ld hel e i e e al a ga de ca hel e e e ie ci g f d i ec i i ca e g he f ie d hi a g e ide a d h b e be a d i ca gi e e e hi g ca e f S 84 AS Thi e ibili ca hel e e e a d ca e e i c ea e elf c fide ce A community kitchen is another beneficial recommendation for both the house or the hub. A c i ki che c ea e a a he e f he e bond over a shared meal A c i ki che c ld al ffe heal h f d a d c ki g g a hich c ld be be eficial e h ha e e i e i i a d l c fide ce i hei c ki g abili Finally, incorporating a small free library is recommended. The e b k ca be d a ed ac i ed a a ec d ha d e P idi g e i h he i ead a d lea ca hel i e e li e ac kill a d elf c fide ce SEC Fig e S 5: a EC f Sec i E DA S 85 SEC 86 6 C Thi ec i S a f Re Li i a i F e Re ea ch C cl di g Th gh W k Ci ed C S SEC 6: C C 87 S S A Thi e ea ch a c d c ed i affilia i i h Th Ri e U i e i a d he Ka l a d Di ic Eli abe h F S cie A de g ad a e de i he cial k g a e e e ch e be he eci ie f he TRU C i De el e Re ea ch G a Thi e ea ch jec a ai ed ide a dee e i igh i he li ed e e ie ce f e h ha e bee c i i ali ed a d ide if ible i lica i f h a ec e h e a d a e ce h b c ld hi la i O e ie f he li e a e ill i a ed fi e aj he e ega di g eali ie f e li i g i h c i i ali a i he e e e e a i f I dige e a d e e al ha f c l iali he f ag e a i a d i ade a e ca e f h ical a d e al heal h he challe ge a d i a ce f ela i hi he c lica i f c i ei eg a i a d ba ie ega di g h i g e l e a a i ig a a d a le c di i I a c ide a i ecific lde a d a e h ha e bee c i i ali ed a ell a COVID i ac e e al highligh ed We e a i ed he e ial be efi a d challe ge f i le e i g a ec e h e a d e ce h b del e e e ie ci g c i i ali a i a d ade ec e da i ba ed he fi di g f li e a e e ie Fi all e li ed ec e da i f he ec e h i g a d e ce h b e e di g f he he e a al ed i c e ec i he e ec e da i e ha i ed he ecla a i f c l a d elf de e i a i We h e a al i f he i ac f i e ec i g e i he c i i ali a i f e ill e ke e a h f hi la i The g al f hi e a i f he de el e f a e e i g ec e h e a d e ce h b ha ca b eak he c cle f a ca ce a i i e li e SEC 6: C C 88 S A S Al h gh hi jec did ide i a i igh i d e ha e a a ie f li i a i Fi e did c d c d a he e c d c ed a all li e a e e ie he ic f e i he c i i al j ice e ec e h e a d e ce h b The a le i e f a icle a e e i e a e bega i i g he e a a d a icle a al ed We al e e ie ced a i e li i a i a he e ea ch g a a e be f h l g if e had e i e a le i e ld ha e bee likel ch la ge Fi all e had diffic l fi di g i f a i ab h i g fi a d e ce h b ail ed a d e h ha e bee c i i ali ed While he e a e e die ab H i g Fi a d e ce h b i ge e al he e i a e e e lack f e ea ch ab he e del ki g ecificall i h e h ha e bee c i i ali ed Thi i i i g c ide i g e eed i he c i i al j ice e ha e hi icall bee e l ked H e e i d e h ha e e ea ch eed be c le ed h h i g fi del a d e ce h b c ld hel hi la i We h e ha hi e ea ch jec i a e i he igh di ec i f f e e ea che Ph b Al aH l SEC 6: C F Th C 89 S E ESEA C gh hi e ea ch jec e ha e bec e a i a e ab he ic f e h ha e e e ie ced c i i ali a i a d hei e e ie ce e i eg a i g i he c i Thi i e e ill be c d c i g e ea ch h gh he de g ad a e e ea ch e e ie ce a a d g a UREAP Thi e ea ch ill be a al i g e a e e ie ce f c i i ali a i a d he effec i ha hei c e e e ie ce ki g i a hel i g le We ill be c d c i g i de h ali a i e i e ie i h e h a e c e l e l ed i a aid l ee le h ha e a e e ie ce f c i i ali a i D e he COVID a de ic e ea ch ill be c le ed e el Ph b A M i SEC C 6: C C C 90 S D C i ei eg a i af e i ca ce a i ca be e e el challe gi g f e a d e e al ba ie ake hi a i i al i ible Heal hca e i f e f ag e ed a d diffic l acce b a ce e a d e al ill e a e a la ge c ce ela i hi a e f ac ed a d i eed f e e al a i ea i gf l e l e i challe gi g ac i e h i g i c l able a d afe he fea f h ele e e i ca ce a i i e e e e a d ig a e e e f e e feeli g f ll elc ed back i cie S Taki g all f hi i c ide a i i ca ee a h gh he ca d a e acked agai he e e h e e he i le e a i f ec e h i g a d e ce h b c ld e hel he i a a ha i al able a d e e i g SEC C 6: C C C 91 S D Thi a he g al f he e ide if he c e e ie ce a d eed f e h ha e bee c i i ali ed ide if he be efi a d challe ge f h i g a d h b del a d c bi e he e fi di g i a li f ec e da i f h he e del c ld e e hi la i D e he a ie f eed a d c ce a i g f d c a i e cial e l e a i a ce a del ha add e e hi a ie i ke S A c bi ed h e a d h b del ha add e e e e hi g f heal hca e c l e a d c i e e hi g i be ee c ea e a eb f e ice ki g ge he e e he e e a e lef al e i he figh f ei eg a i F ha affec e f affec all We cl e i h hi e f D Lilla Wa a I dige ac i i a d acade ic h e e ie ced c i i ali a i “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting our time. If you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” a ci ed i Pa e EFE ENCES 92 EFE ENCES 93 EFE ENCES 94 EFE ENCES 95 EFE ENCES 96 EFE ENCES 97 EFE ENCES 98 EFE ENCES 99 EFE ENCES 100 EFE ENCES 101 S 102 S 103 S 104 S *All images not cited are free from Canva 105