'It kept me trapped': How struggles to find child care can exacerbate cases of intimate partner violence
CBC
A Nova Scotia woman says she wanted to end her abusive marriage for more than three years, but a lack of available child care left her with no way out.
"It kept me trapped," said the mother of two, whose identity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.
"Financially it just wasn't viable, especially with kids. Like not having child care … I wasn't able to work the hours that I needed to, to be on my own."
Since having her youngest, the inability to find child care has prevented the woman from returning to work full time. Like thousands of parents across the province, she said she's on a number of lengthy waitlists, but nothing has materialized so far.
This has caused her to be financially dependent on her alleged abuser, who was recently arrested and charged with physically and sexually assaulting her, according to Nova Scotia's Public Prosecution Service.
But domestic violence experts say her story is not unique.
Miia Suokonautio is executive director of YWCA Halifax, an organization that helps women experiencing intimate partner violence. They also provide many other services like child care and housing support.
She said she and her staff witness instances like this all the time, pointing to a lack of child care as one of the most prominent barriers that people, especially women, face when trying to leave an abusive partner.
"Gender-based violence thrives on vulnerability," said Suokonautio. "It thrives on the fact that you need to be home with your children. It thrives on the fact that you cannot get out because you don't have the money, or you don't have someone to support your kids."
Since his arrest, the alleged perpetrator has been ordered not to contact the woman or their children, but she still relies on some spousal and child support to stay afloat.
"I have a good education, I have good work experience. I can make a good income if I can work full time, but I can't," she said.
"If there were more supports in place … I could have left before it got to a point where there's five assault charges."
The woman said she had asked her husband for a divorce in the months leading up to his arrest. But because she didn't have the income to leave, she was forced to continue living with him.
She said that's when she faced the most violent abuse.
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