'We're busy. It doesn't seem to slow down or stop,' Mary Louise Fournier, a member of the Yukon Women's Transition Home Society, said at last Friday's annual general meeting.

Statistics released by the society regarding Kaushee's Place show that over the course of the 2004/2005 fiscal year, the adult day beds at the home had an 80-per-cent occupancy rate. The family beds were at 73-per-cent occupancy.

This is an increase on both fronts from the 2003/2004 fiscal year. The occupancy in the adult beds has risen 16 per cent while the family occupancy climbed 14 per cent.

The home provides 15 beds to women and their children who are fleeing abusive situations. Nine of the beds are meant to be exclusively for adults.

The women and children are able to stay in the home for up to 30 days at no cost. They're given access to assistance in securing housing, financial support, legal aid, day care and employment.

Over the course of a year, 5,400 bed slots are available. From April 1, 2004 until March 31, 2005, 4,007 of those slots were occupied by a total of 533 people.

Since the 1998/1999 fiscal year, the numbers have steadily grown from 45-per-cent occupancy to this year's record high.

Things aren't likely going to slow down for the transition home, executive director Barb Powick told the afternoon meeting's attendees.

'Violence in the home is a huge issue here in the Yukon,' Powick said in an interview Monday.

'We seem to have a tolerance for violence and tend to normalize it.'

Statistically, violence against women appears to be approximately five-per-cent higher than what it is in other parts of Canada, Powick said.

Education and support are needed for Yukoners to fight against abuse in the home, she added.

Due to the need for education, the 21-member staff at Kaushee's Place doesn't just provide support to the home's residents. They also provide outreach help to the community.

More than 1,162 hours were spent over the fiscal year on outreach, which has enabled the society to help and educate about 3,910 people.

One of the society's key achievements over the last year was reaching a three-year funding agreement with the Department of Health and Social Services that will provide additional money toward staffing.

The funding should help make the workload more manageable, said Powick. She was concerned about maintaining a healthy level of work and a good environment for her employees.

The non-profit society, which manages the safe house, is currently $6,641 in the red. The house, itself, is also operating in the red at -$2,218.

Powick said the deficit is mostly due to complex funding structures and is predominantly just numbers on paper. However, she added that it is 'a bit of a problem.'

The society is now searching for ways that might permit it to get more funding from the Yukon Housing Corp. to help its budget.

'As the building ages, the repairs and maintenance will be come a larger issue,' Powick said in her executive director's report.

However, the safe house does have a good working relationship with the YHC and the corporation is often called in to consult on any repairs or maintenance needed for the building, she said.

'They are really onboard,' she said. 'We're at a shortfall, but we've got all the parties at the table.'

Despite the challenges the safe house is facing, the society hopes to move into discussions regarding a 'second stage' building which will provide independent, secure living space for women trying to escape abuse.

The rooms would be available for rent based on fair market value capped at 25 per cent of a women's income.

The society currently provides five rooms at Kaushee's Place for this purpose, but has historically had a high occupancy rate. This past year, it was at 88 per cent.

'It will be a huge undertaking for the organization,' said Powick. 'At this point, we're fearfully talking about it.'

The society recognizes the need for the second stage housing, but there is concern about the costs and staffing of the new building, said Powick.

The services now offered at Kaushee's Place shouldn't be allowed to be compromised by the project, she added.

The society's board of directors hopes to assemble a committee to research and begin formulating a plan regarding the building prior to the end of the year.

Other priorities for the year include pushing for a more integrated community response toward violence and working with Yukon Health and Social Services to ensure adequate resources are available for women and children fleeing abusive situations.

'Women deserve to have support when they leave an abusive relationship,' said Powick.