Post by bingbong on Jun 15, 2007 10:22:27 GMT 12
What a weird freaky organisation this is cruel.
What a response from the YWCA Director Margaret Arnold "who were compassionate and supportive to residents AND One complainant says she was thrown out of the shelter despite needing treatment for stomach cancer and another alleges she was told "you Maoris are ripping off the system" by a staff member."
IF they claim that is an example of staff compassion and support to residents I couldn't imagine what would happen on a "bad" day!!!!!!
Abuse claims at YWCA shelter
By KIM THOMAS - The Press | Friday, 15 June 2007
A group of women are alleging human rights abuse at Christchurch's only emergency shelter for homeless women.
Five women this week lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, alleging racism and "gross" discrimination while staying at the YWCA's Hereford Street shelter.
One complainant says she was thrown out of the shelter despite needing treatment for stomach cancer and another alleges she was told "you Maoris are ripping off the system" by a staff member.
A Human Rights Commission spokeswoman confirmed the commission had a joint complaint from the five women.
If the complaint was found to have merit the commission would organise mediation between the parties involved, she said.
YWCA director Margaret Arnold said she was unaware a human rights complaint had been lodged, but felt confident the allegations would turn out not to correspond to the facts.
Arnold said she stood behind her staff, who were compassionate and supportive to residents.
The complaint, compiled by North Island advocate Maevis Watson, recorded alleged discrimination by YWCA staff members and management this year.
Watson told The Press she had received complaints from at least 10 other women who had stayed at the shelter and were considering laying an official complaint with the human rights watchdog.
The human rights complaint states the women lived in a "climate of fear, mistrust, racism and abuse in the form of bullying" from staff and management.
One of the women who laid the complaint is Ann Radcliffe, who is undergoing treatment for stomach cancer at Christchurch Hospital.
Radcliffe told The Press that during her stay at the YWCA its management approached her general practitioner and cancer specialist without her permission to ask about her health after disputing she was seriously ill.
Radcliffe said she had been asked to leave the shelter, where she had been living for about a year.
However, she had been given no help to find alternative accommodation, despite being seriously unwell, she said.
Housing for Women Trust co-ordinator Valerie Quinn said she was outraged some of Christchurch's most vulnerable women and their children were allegedly being mistreated.
Those who stayed at the YWCA were often desperate and had nowhere else to go, she said.
Quinn's agency provides affordable long-term accommodation for women.
Christchurch City Council housing manager Kevin Bennettsaid he received a letter of complaint from residents of the YWCA in May.
Bennett said he was also aware a complaint had been laid with the Human Rights Commission this week.
However, Bennett said the council was "simply a landlord for this service (the YWCA), therefore it is inappropriate to comment on the service being provided".
The council has recently renewed the YWCA's lease until 2013.
What a response from the YWCA Director Margaret Arnold "who were compassionate and supportive to residents AND One complainant says she was thrown out of the shelter despite needing treatment for stomach cancer and another alleges she was told "you Maoris are ripping off the system" by a staff member."
IF they claim that is an example of staff compassion and support to residents I couldn't imagine what would happen on a "bad" day!!!!!!
Abuse claims at YWCA shelter
By KIM THOMAS - The Press | Friday, 15 June 2007
A group of women are alleging human rights abuse at Christchurch's only emergency shelter for homeless women.
Five women this week lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, alleging racism and "gross" discrimination while staying at the YWCA's Hereford Street shelter.
One complainant says she was thrown out of the shelter despite needing treatment for stomach cancer and another alleges she was told "you Maoris are ripping off the system" by a staff member.
A Human Rights Commission spokeswoman confirmed the commission had a joint complaint from the five women.
If the complaint was found to have merit the commission would organise mediation between the parties involved, she said.
YWCA director Margaret Arnold said she was unaware a human rights complaint had been lodged, but felt confident the allegations would turn out not to correspond to the facts.
Arnold said she stood behind her staff, who were compassionate and supportive to residents.
The complaint, compiled by North Island advocate Maevis Watson, recorded alleged discrimination by YWCA staff members and management this year.
Watson told The Press she had received complaints from at least 10 other women who had stayed at the shelter and were considering laying an official complaint with the human rights watchdog.
The human rights complaint states the women lived in a "climate of fear, mistrust, racism and abuse in the form of bullying" from staff and management.
One of the women who laid the complaint is Ann Radcliffe, who is undergoing treatment for stomach cancer at Christchurch Hospital.
Radcliffe told The Press that during her stay at the YWCA its management approached her general practitioner and cancer specialist without her permission to ask about her health after disputing she was seriously ill.
Radcliffe said she had been asked to leave the shelter, where she had been living for about a year.
However, she had been given no help to find alternative accommodation, despite being seriously unwell, she said.
Housing for Women Trust co-ordinator Valerie Quinn said she was outraged some of Christchurch's most vulnerable women and their children were allegedly being mistreated.
Those who stayed at the YWCA were often desperate and had nowhere else to go, she said.
Quinn's agency provides affordable long-term accommodation for women.
Christchurch City Council housing manager Kevin Bennettsaid he received a letter of complaint from residents of the YWCA in May.
Bennett said he was also aware a complaint had been laid with the Human Rights Commission this week.
However, Bennett said the council was "simply a landlord for this service (the YWCA), therefore it is inappropriate to comment on the service being provided".
The council has recently renewed the YWCA's lease until 2013.
