Resources

On this page you will find helpful information on recognizing and avoiding abusive relationships and situations, as well as a list of local organizations to help you.

On this page:

• What is Abuse?
• Building a Healthy Relationship
• Making a Safety Plan
• Third-Party Resources and Organizations

What is Abuse?

The signs of abuse may be direct – such as physical violence – or subtle – such as texting and gaslighting – but the common factor in all abusive relationships is that the abuse is used to maintain control over their partner.

Recognizing abuse is the first step in escaping an abusive relationship. There may be many signs, or there may be few, but everything ultimately comes down to exerting control.

For more information, including information specific to different relationships, please click the button below.

Building a Healthy Relationship

Abusive relationships are about power and control. Healthy relationships are about sharing and negotiating and respecting boundaries. Nobody is immune from finding themselves in an abusive relationship, and so working to build a healthy relationship built on respect.

Here is a brief list of characteristics found in healthy relationships.

• Have fun together more often than not
• Each enjoy spending time separately, and support each other’s interests
• Solve conflicts without putting each other down, cursing at each other or making threats
• Both accept responsibility for your actions and apologize when wrong
• Have equal decision-making power about what you do in your relationship
• Communicate openly about sex: desires, needs, and unacceptable or unwanted activities

There are many other signs of a healthy relationship than just these 6 characteristics. If you are having trouble establishing these characteristics with your partner, counselling may be an option.

Making a Safety Plan

Leaving an abusive situation can be the most stressful, difficult, and dangerous moments of your recovery. It is important to have a Safety or Escape Plan so that you and any dependents (children and / or pets) will be able to leave safely.

Third-Party Resources and Organizations

The following are helpful organizations and programs that are partnered with but not developed by Interval House of Hamilton.

Community Resource List

Francophone Crisis:
Fem-aide Francophone Crisis Line
www.femaide.ca/
1-877-336-2433

Assaulted Women’s Helpline
1-866-863-0511
www.awhl.org

Women’s Centre of Hamilton & Jared’s Place Legal Advocacy Centre
905-522-0127

Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre
289-895-8580

Interval House Hamilton Shelter
905-387-8881

Human Trafficking Service Supports:
https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/
https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/fr/

Second Stage Housing

GoodShepherd Women’s Outreach Services
Crisis Line: 905.523.6277
Phone: 905.523.8766

Phoenix Place
905-527-2238

Native Women’s Centre: Honouring the Circle Program:
Phone: 905.664.1114
Toll Free: 1.888.308.6559

YWCA
905-522-9922

General Support Services

Emergency Services: Shelters, Police, Sexual Assault, and 24-Hour Crisis Assistance

Interval House of Hamilton: Emergency Shelter for Abused Women & Children
Crisis Line 905-387-8881

Good Shepherds: Mary’s Place: Homeless & Mental Health Emergency Shelter for Women
905-540-8000

Good Shepherds: Martha House: Emergency shelter for Abused & Homeless Women & Children
905-540-8000

Mission Services: Inasmuch Women Services: Emergency Shelter for Abused & Homeless Women and Children
Crisis line 905-529-8600
TTY Phone Line 905-529-8029

Native Women Centre of Hamilton: Emergency Shelter for Abused & Homeless Women & Children
Phone: 905.664.1114
Toll Free: 1.888.308.6559

Sexual Assault Centre: 24 hour/7 day a week Crisis Line for Women & Men who have been sexually assaulted (historical and recent)
905-525-4162

Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Care Centre (McMaster Site)
905-521-2100 ext. 73557

Fem-aide Francophone Crisis Line: Francophone crisis fem-aide
1-877-336-2433

C.O.A.S.T: Mental Health Crisis Line
905-972-8338

Assaulted Women’s Helpline: Provincial Crisis line 24 hours/7 days a week
1-866-863-0511
TTY (Hearing Impaired)
1-866-863-7868

Hamilton Police Service
911 (Emergency)
905-546-4925 (Non-Emergency)

Family Violence Resource Unit
905-546-3852
905-546-3853

Victim Services Branch: Provide Emergency support at crime scene & referrals
905-546-4904

Professional Standards Branch (complaints)
905-546-4776
905-546-4777

Ontario Provincial Police
1-888-310-1122

TTY (Hearing Impaired)
1-888-310-1133

Hospitals and Medical Facilities
Ambulance
911 (Emergency)
905-547-1414 (Non-Emergency)

Chedoke Hospital
905-521-2100

McMaster Medical Centre
905-521-2100

Hamilton General Hospital
905-527-4322

Henderson Hospital
905-527-4322

Joseph Brant Hospital
905-632-3730

St. Joseph’s Hospital
905-522-4941
905-522-1155

Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Care Centre (McMaster Site)
905-521-2100 ext. 73557

Counselling Services:

Women

Services Hamilton
905-528-0104

Catholic Family Services of Hamilton-Wentworth
905-527-3823

Elizabeth Fry Society
905-527-3097

Women’s Centre of Hamilton-Wentworth
905-522-0127

Woman Abuse Educational Support Program
905-527-3823 ext. 264

Men

Community Information Services Hamilton
905-528-0104

Catholic Family Services of Hamilton-Wentworth
905-527-3823

Francophone Community Health Centre
905-528-0163

North Hamilton Community Health Centre
(905) 523-6611

Urban Core Community Health Centre
905-522-3233
905-667-7476

Ancaster Community Services
905-648-6675

LGBTQ Wellness Centre of Hamilton
905-525-0300

Phoenix Place
905-527-2238

Children

Catholic Children’s Aid Society
905-525-5606

Children’s Aid Society
905-522-1121

Catholic Family Services of Hamilton-Wentworth
905-527-3823

Community Child Abuse Council
905-523-1020

Legal Services

General

Jared’s Place
Legal Advocacy & Resource Centre for Women

The Superior Court of Justice
905-645-5252

The Ontario Court of Justice
905-645-5252

Justice of the Peace
905-645-5252

The Ontario Court of Justice-Family Division
905-645-6250

Family Law Information Centre
905-645-5252 ext. 2554

The Victim/Witness Assistance Program
905-645-5272

Crown Attorney
905-645-5262

Law Society of Upper Canada (complaints)
1-800-268-7568

Lawyer Referral Service
1-800-268-8326

Immigration Inquiries
1-888-242-2100

Hamilton Citizenship Office
1-888-242-2100

Canada Immigration Centre
1-888-242-2100

Passport Inquiries
1-800-567-6868
905-667-7476

Multicultural Community Resource Centre (CAPC)
905-546-4295

St. Joseph’s Immigrant Women’s Centre
905-529-5209

Francophone Community Health Centre
905-528-0163

Health Services

Hospitals and Medical Facilities
Ambulance
911 (Emergency)
905-547-1414 (Non-Emergency)