In late 2011 Sonas ran the first Freedom Programme in Ireland. The Freedom Programme is a support group developed in the UK and designed for women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence. The Freedom Programme gives women an opportunity and space to develop ways of thinking and behaving to protect themselves and their children from harm.

We delivered the programme in two Sonas locations: one targeting Viva House Reach-out clients; and the second in one of our supported housing complexes.

We have just finished the Evaluation Report of this programme which shows the Programme has many positive impacts and outcomes for participants.

The main findings were as follows:

• 100% of participants said the Freedom Programme had a positive impact on their lives
• 100% of participants rated the Freedom Programme as very helpful

Because of their participation in the Freedom Programme:

• 100% agreed (82% strongly agreed) the programme has resulted in positive change in their lives
• 100% agreed (55% strongly agreed) they are now more hopeful about the future
• 100% agreed (55% strongly agreed) they were more assertive
• 100% agreed (64% strongly agreed) they were more confident
• 91% agreed (64% strongly agreed) they no longer blame themselves for their abuser’s behaviour
• 100% agreed (82% strongly agreed) they can now more sense of the abuser’s behaviour
• 100% agreed (82% strongly agreed) they now feel less alone in their experience of domestic violence
• 100% agreed (91% strongly agreed) they benefited from meeting other women on the programme
• 91% agreed (73% strongly agreed) they now expect to be respected
• 100% agreed (82% strongly agreed) they were more aware about domestic violence and its effects
• 100% agreed (82% strongly agreed) they can now recognise and identify abusive behaviour
• 91% agreed (27% strongly agreed) they feel they have the ability to respond to abusive behaviour
• 100% (73% strongly agreed) they could now recognise an unhealthy relationship

As well as the quantitative findings, women had an opportunity to explain their reasons for selecting their answers. The main themes that emerged from the qualitative questions were:

• Greater strength and confidence – many women said that the programme made them stronger and made them feel more able to stand up for themselves
• More awareness of controlling behaviours towards them and signs of abuse. For example, one woman said that she recognised things that she didn’t see as abusive.
• The peer-bonding element of having group support was cited as being very important by many women with one woman an important impact for her was that she now knows she is not alone. Another woman said it was important to her that others understood her feelings around her experiences.
• More hope for the future – many women said they felt more positively about the future as a result of taking part in the programme.
• Boundaries – more awareness that the abuser is responsible for his own behaviour and no one else is.
• Rollout of the programme – many of the participants hoped the programme would be rolled out to help more women as well as educate professionals working in the area.

Below are a snapshot from participants’ comments. You can read more in the final report which you can download here.

• “It made me feel comfortable and make sense of things, made me feel more powerful. It made me understand what happened in my life.”
• “It has made me more aware of signs and made me understand what both my daughter and I have gone through and for me what started with my dad in my own childhood.”
• “More aware, less confused, not alone, stronger, understand more, don’t blame myself anymore.”
• “It made me strong.”
• “It has turned my life from a negative to a positive. It is as its name says freedom, from pain, guilt, sorrow, hopelessness and self‑loathing. I know by the will of God I will have a happy life, full and positive on my own or with the good guy.”
• “It made me understand what happened to me is not my fault.”
• “I can now look positively into the future without necessarily blaming myself or feeling sorry for him.”
• “I now know I’m not alone and it has made stronger and more positive to make life changes.”

Hit your Stride with Sonas

Calling all walkers, joggers, and runners!

The Flora Women’s Mini Marathon will take place on Monday 4th June 2012 and we’re looking for women of all ages to suppport Sonas at this years event.

Please spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues, and organise your team now.

Registration for the mini – marathon opens on the 22nd February. You can sign up online on the event website or submit your form, which will be published every week in the Evening Herald.

Contact Sonas now for your event sponsorship card and fundraising pack, as well as any other fundraising materials you may require. Please email Camilla at fundraising@sonashousing.ie or phone 01 872 0068.

Sonas will issue all participants with a special race T-shirt! Sign -up and get your sponsorship card today.

Reporting to the Lead Housing Officer, the role involves assisting the Housing Officer in providing a housing management and maintenance service (Dublin South and West) in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures. This includes working with the housing management and support teams in delivering a best-practice quality service for all tenants.

Responsibilities include:

• Management of repairs (budget responsibility for day to day repairs).
• Assistance in the management of the housing rental system.
• Assistance in the management of new lettings and developments.
• Assistance in the inspection of Sonas properties and other estate management tasks.
• Updating the computerised maintenance reporting system (CHICS) and other housing reporting tools.
• Carrying out other duties as assigned by the Lead Housing Officer.
• Manage the organisation’s applications and allocations procedure, and support the organisation with new development opportunities.
• Support the organisation in the research and implementation of development opportunities.

Hours: 35 Hours Monday to Friday 9-5,

Location: Based in Tallaght, covering Sonas housing units in Dublin South and West.  To include a training period of approximately one month based in Killester.

Salary scale: €39,650- € 47,366.38

The ideal candidate will have:

Essential Requirements:

• Knowledge of the social housing sector.
• Knowledge of housing law and tenancy / licence agreements.
• Good understanding of building technology and building systems (including heating, plumbing, etc.) and specifications of work to carry out repairs  and maintenance works.
• Two years+ experience of working in a customer focused environment.
• Experience of working in a property-orientated environment.
• Experience of working with a wide range of people who may be: vulnerable, homeless, elderly, low income households.
• Proven examples of resolving difficult situations.
• Experience of working with I.T. systems to include input, monitor and analysis of data.
• Flexible, innovative and adaptable to change.
• Full valid driving licence and ability to travel efficiently to various locations across Dublin area.
• Computer skills with competence in using email, internet and MS Office.
• Good communication skills / ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Self starter with ability to work on own initiative.

Desirable Requirements

• Professional qualification e.g. ICSH / CIH
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of rent, repairs and maintenance.
• Experience of working with other social landlords, statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Knowledge of property development.
• Communication skills: verbal, written, report writing, presentation.
• Planning and organisational skills.
• Financial appreciation and budget management skills.
• Problem solving, influencing and negotiating skills.

You can download the full job description and competency profile here.

How to Apply:

Please forward your CV and cover letter by email only to hr@sonashousing.ie.

Please quote reference: HO

Closing date for receipt of applications: Friday February 3^rd at 5pm.

Interviews are expected to take place on Monday, February 13^th

Demand for Sonas services is still higher than we can cater for. Your continued support in 2012 is appreciated. To find out how you can support us please check out:  http://www.sonashousing.ie/fundraising-and-events/.

While there have been some welcome measures in Budget 2012 such as: the raising of the threshold for the Universal Social Charge; maintaining the social welfare rates; and maintaining the pre-school year for all children, the overall impact is very negative for some of Ireland’s most vulnerable people.

“Cutting the fuel allowance from 32 weeks to 26 weeks is one of the most detrimental aspects of Budget 2012 that has the potential to result in more deaths of older and sick people who may now be unable to heat their homes sufficiently,” said Rachel Mullen, chairperson of Sonas Housing, which provides support, housing and refuge to women and children made homeless because of domestic violence.

The changes to One-Parent Family Payment will have a negative impact on a group in society who are already struggling to make ends meet – one-parent family households are already four times more likely to live in poverty. Budget 2012 reduces from €146 to €130 the amount a lone parent can earn while still being able to claim the family payment. “This will have a negative impact on many women who are on part-time low-paid jobs. For example these women will no longer be entitled to receive the One-Parent Family Payment while on the Community Employment scheme. This is a retrograde move for women in terms of education and re-entry to the workforce. It’s contrary to the Government’s commitment to activating the job’s market as it creates a disincentive to remain in the workplace.”

Cutting child benefit in respect of the third and fourth children will also have negative financial impacts on large families.

Sonas Housing works with many one-parent families and those in receipt of fuel allowance and says the impacts will be clearly visible. “Overall this budget is unbalanced and deeply unfair – the most vulnerable in society are being affected the worst, though they actually benefited the least in boom times,” said Mullen.

“Instead of creating real political reform, this budget has taken nasty swipes at easy targets – people living in poverty, women, children and people with disabilities. There is an obvious absence of any poverty or equality impact assessment on many of the measures proposed in Budget 2012.”

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A Safe Space

Dublin, 29th November 2011: Women are trapped in dangerous situations in their own home because the justice and health systems are failing to adequately protect them, a report launched today revealed.

Senator Ivana Bacik and Sonas Housing launched A Safe Space, a feasibility study which finds there is a major need for a women’s refuge in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) area. Senator Bacik said that domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness in Ireland and we lag way behind Council of Europe recommendations on domestic violence spaces.

“Domestic violence, like many human services issues is complex. It is undeniably a major cause of homelessness in women,” said Senator Bacik. “This report finds an urgent need for a full-time domestic violence refuge service in DLR where there is currently no refuge provision. This is a situation that is unfortunately replicated all across the country.”

The authors of the report examined the incidence of domestic violence in the area and the current services available to women. They also researched international best practice targets for refuge provision and spoke with many relevant groups such as the guards, local authority staff, domestic violence support workers and the HSE.

The report found that the failure of the civil and criminal justice system to provide protection for women in the home was cited as the single biggest reason women are forced to leave home and make themselves and their children homeless.

“Women in domestic violence situations should ideally be able to access protection from domestic violence without having to leave their home. But this is not currently happening,” said Jane Pillinger, one of the report authors. “If a woman is lucky enough to get a legal order in place, often they are not enforced and there are no sanctions for breaching the order.

“The most dangerous time for a woman is when she has just left or is just about to leave a violent partner,” she added. “This risk of post-separation violence means that that women and children fleeing a violent situation need more than just a roof and a bed. They also need safety, security and support. Unfortunately this is something they often can’t get if they are forced into inappropriate emergency bed and breakfast accommodation, or even forced back into the home.”

The report recommends that an initial provision of 8-10 family spaces be provided in the DLR area, with an absolute minimum of 6 family spaces. The study recognises that domestic violence refuges need to be part of a broader model of domestic violence intervention in the community, which would ensure the majority of women are supported safely in their home or if they have to leave, have access to appropriate services.

Not providing adequate domestic violence spaces is a move described as a false economy that could result in women seeking refuge in more expensive state services such as A&E and primary health care resources which are not equipped to address the core problem.

“Having no place to go to could be the difference between life and death,” said Rachel Mullen, chairperson with Sonas Housing. “Not having enough refuge spaces has serious implications that could result in serious injury to women and children and worst case scenario, tragic unnecessary deaths that sadly could be prevented.”

Click here to download the report.

The details for the launch are as follows:

What: Launch of A Safe Space, A feasibility study showing the need for a refuge in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown

When: Tuesday 29th November, 11.30am

Where: Dublin Region Homeless Executive (formerly the Homeless Agency), Parkgate Hall, 6-9 Conyngham Road, Dublin 8

Who: Senator Ivana Bacik will launch the report with input from report authors Monica O’Connor and Jane Pillinger

RSVP: Please RSVP to Paula McGovern, Sonas Housing by email pmcgovern@sonashousing.ie by Friday, 25th November.

This Sunday 20th November 2011  a Clothes Sale will take place at

29 South Anne St. (just off Grafton Street, above Brereton’s Jewellers)

from 12pm to 6pm.

All proceeds will go to Sonas and the work of the Christina Nobel Foundation in Vietnam.

With the promise of high fashion dresses, jackets , heels, scarfs, skirts, jeans &accessories on offer at incredible prices, you don’t want to miss it.

Our kind supporters at The Property Panel held a table quiz for us on Friday 11th November at Lansdowne Road in aid of ‘Children in Crisis’. Proceeds raised on the night will contribute much needed funds for Sonas, as well as for two other very worthy Irish charities – Focus Ireland and the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation.

Thanks Paula and all the crew at the Property Panel!