Key Takeaways:
- The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) is launching the Doorway to Safety Project, a pilot initiative supported by Ring, providing 3,000 Ring devices, along with X-line subscriptions at no cost to domestic violence survivors across British Columbia.
- The devices will be distributed through BCSTH's 148 member organizations spanning seven regions of BC, including rural, northern and remote communities, as one option that can be incorporated into a survivor's broader safety plan.
- In addition to the devices, Ring is contributing $210,000 to support BCSTH's programming and mission, including survivors' economic independence through the BCSTH Bursary Fund.
For survivors of domestic violence, feeling safe at home can be difficult. Something as simple as seeing who is at the door before opening it, or knowing what is happening outside, can make a meaningful difference. But for survivors who are starting over, often with few resources, every dollar goes to rent, groceries and keeping their children fed. Security technology is not something they can often afford to prioritize.
A new initiative in British Columbia is working to change that.
The BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH), with support from Ring, is launching the Doorway to Safety Project, a pilot program that will put 3,000 Ring devices into the hands of domestic violence survivors across the province, at no cost to them.
The devices will be distributed through BCSTH's 148 member programs as one option that can be incorporated into a survivor's broader safety plan. It is the first time Ring has worked with an organization to bring a device donation program to Canada.
"Nearly half of BC women have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15," said Amy S. FitzGerald, Executive Director of the BC Society of Transition Houses. "We've heard from support workers and survivors for years that these devices could make a significant difference. This program makes that possible."
BCSTH has been working with domestic abuse survivors for over 40 years. Its 148 member organizations – 24 Indigenous-led and 10 on reserve lands – support 18,000 women, children and youth annually across seven regions of the province, from Vancouver Island in the west to Elkford on the Alberta border and Fort Nelson in the North.
The program is not simply about handing out devices. Anti-violence support workers will help survivors consider their individual circumstances, technology needs and safety concerns when deciding whether a device is right for them. The devices are portable, so survivors can take them if they move.
"Leaving an abusive relationship does not always mean the stalking, harassment or fear ends," said Brooke Belkin, BCSTH Board of Directors Chair and Director of Youth and Women Services at the Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays, one of the program's seven regional pilot sites. "The women we support are dealing with real, ongoing threats. Anything that gives them more awareness of what is happening around their home matters."
Ring's community support for survivor safety began in 2021 in Texas. Since then, in the US, it has grown into a nationally coordinated effort through a partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). This work has reached more than 800 nonprofits across 50 states, with Ring donating over 50,000 devices to date.
In addition to the device donation, Ring is contributing $210,000 to support BCSTH's programming and mission. This includes the BCSTH Bursary Fund, which helps women pursue education, training, employment and entrepreneurship goals.
"Housing security and financial independence are the two biggest protective factors for survivors," said FitzGerald. "A sense of both, while they rebuild, truly represents a doorway to safety. We are grateful to Ring for helping make that possible."
To learn more about the Doorway to Safety Project, visit BCSTH's project page. To learn more about BCSTH, visit bcsth.ca. To learn more about Ring, visit here.
