13. Towards the Road to
Independence: The Affect
of a Shelter Experience on
DV Victims Case Study of
Taipei City’s Lan Hsin Shelter
Shu-Fen WANG, Director
Garden of Hope Taipei City Branch
14. Research Motivation
Oversee Lan Hsin Shelter since 2001
Questions of Interest:
How does a shelter experience changes occupants’
lives?
Does it affect their choice to lead independent lives?
Supervisor’s approval/support & Foundation’s
research funding
15. Lan Hsin Shelter
Sheltered Individuals: 2001 Statistics, 102 persons (64
women, 38 children)
Settled Cases in 2001: 85 persons (55 women, 30
children). 45% of women returned to original r’ship,
55% led independent lives or lived with family/friends
Services provided:
Case management service: Supportive counseling, Legal
advice, Financial assistance, Accompaniment (court
appearance, retrieval of valuables from home, hospital visits)
Group project service: Women’s support group education, De-
stress workshop, Children education counseling, Parent-child
groups
Life counseling service: Life management, Recreation &
Entertainment, Spiritual Care
16. Research Objectives
Research of how a shelter experience affects:
DV victims’ personal effectiveness, including
strengthening ego function, increasing
capability for independent living & self-
fulfillment
DV victims’ management of subsequent
intimate r’ship & violence
DV victims’ choice to lead independent lives
Proposals on how to develop & improve
future shelter services
17. Research Design
Literature Review/Analysis
In-depth Interview
Subjects of in-depth interview: Victims of violence in
intimate r’ships, who have stayed in Lan Hsin Shelter
for more than three (3) months, & have left the
Shelter within one (1) year
Number of Interviewees: Four (4) persons
Content of Interview:
1) Basic information: Age, Level of Education,
Profession, Length of Stay in Shelter
2) Interview Content: Shelter experience & its
influence, Process of choice to live independently &
its challenges
18. Research Analysis
Literature review: DV victims meets complex
challenges when trying to leave violent
environments
How a shelter experience helps DV victims establish
inner drive to build independent lives:
1. Reviews the influence of violence in intimate
r’ships
2. Enable them to discipline children & support them
3. Build self-identity & independent decision-making
skills-Determine the goals &directions of the next
stage of life
4. Personal characteristics & previous experience of
independent living
19. Research Analysis
How a shelter experience helps DV victims establish
external drive to build independent lives:
1) Function of shelter structure & shelter
management
(1) Ease occupants’ ability to adapt to new environment
(2) Provide resting place for spiritual rejuvenation
(3) Guide in thinking about future direction
(4) Cultivation of independent living skills through
shelter management
(5) Offer of friendship & peer support in shelter
(6) Broaden life experiences, increasing possibilities in
life
20. Research Analysis
2. Support & accompaniment of shelter
employees
3. Professional support of shelter employees
(1) Guidance in life rebuilding process:
Eliminate fear of unknown future
(2) Legal assistance
(3) Arrangement of child care/education
(4) Financial assistance
21. Conclusion & Suggestions
(1) Conclusion:
Shelter services can effectively assist DV victims
to escape violent environment, providing vital
support & resources to build independent lives
Inner drive to lead independent lives includes
review of violence in intimate r’ship, support for
children, finding self-identity, personal
characteristics & life experiences
External drive to lead independent lives includes
system of shelter services, professional
assistance received, & support/accompaniment.
22. Conclusion & Suggestions
(2) Suggestions:
Provide DV victims willing to progress towards
independent lives suitable length of living in
shelter
Provide DV victims resources for rebuilding lives,
develop multiple kinds of community support
services
Provide employment services
Develop multiple kinds of housing resources
Publicity & advocacy of foreign spouse related
issues
Reflection of the shelter’s service positioning
23. Thank you for your time.
Feel free to share your
ideas/suggestions with me.