The power of change lies in collective voices—every experience and perspective adds depth to the conversation. Today, Genesis House, a vital organization providing services for individuals affected by domestic violence, is calling on community members to share their thoughts through an important survey. See the survey here.
Why Your Voice Is Needed
For Ang Braun, Executive Director of Genesis House, the need to reassess and improve domestic abuse services is urgent. After two decades in the field, she understands that approaches from 40 years ago may not address the needs of today’s survivors.
“We need to figure out if we’re meeting the needs for the whole group of people that we should be serving,” Braun says. “Are we leading with compassion? Are we hearing people and meeting them where they are as much as we’re able?”
The survey is designed to address key concerns such as service accessibility, trauma-informed care, and community awareness of available support. The insights gained will help shape the future of domestic violence services, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.
Who Should Participate?
This survey welcomes input from a broad range of individuals, including:
- Community members, stakeholders, and others who want to support improvements in domestic abuse services.
- Those who have used Genesis House services.
- Those who have accessed support from other domestic abuse shelters.
- Current and former employees or volunteers at Genesis House or similar organizations.
Breaking Barriers: Why Honest Feedback Matters
For many survivors, providing feedback can feel challenging, especially if they feel a sense of gratitude toward the agencies that helped them. However, Braun emphasizes the importance of unfiltered, honest feedback.
“That’s not what I want. What I want is for people to be able to give us honest feedback. The survey will ask about the types of barriers you experienced. We want to make sure that we are accessible to people and that they feel they can trust our services,” she says.
The survey is completely anonymous and confidential, taking just three minutes to complete. Participants can skip any question they are uncomfortable answering.
The Impact of Your Participation
The information collected through this survey will be used to refine policies and practices within Genesis House and potentially influence other agencies across Manitoba.
“It will inform how we direct our policy, and that may shift some of our practices. We want to make sure that we are relevant and meet the needs of people,” Braun explains. “The survey will provide that direction. We really just need to know the truth about people’s experience.”
Recent findings from Genesis House’s homelessness and sexual assault intervention projects have highlighted gaps in services and identified populations that are underserved. These discoveries underscore the need for more inclusive and accessible domestic abuse support.
Resilience and Hope: The Driving Force Behind This Initiative
Braun’s commitment to improving services is fueled by the resilience of survivors. “One of the greatest things I’ve learned is the amount of resilience that people have—it’s really an endless amount of hope and the ability to still find joy when there’s been so much sadness and difficulty,” she says.
By participating in this survey, you are contributing to a stronger, more supportive community for those affected by domestic abuse.
Take action today—your voice can make a difference. Click here to participate in the survey.
