The Maze: Understanding Information Journeys of Women in Second-stage shelters

This dissertation examines the complex information journeys of women residing in second-stage shelters in Alberta, Canada, with a focus on understanding their evolving needs for support, services, and information. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive global issue, deeply rooted in structural inequalities, and significantly affects women's safety, health, and independence, and the well-being of their children. While emergency shelters provide immediate relief, second-stage shelters offer longer-term housing and support; however little is known about the specific information needs of women in these transitional spaces. Using a grounded theory approach and guided by a feminist perspective, this study explored how women residing in second-stage shelters understood and navigated the interconnected systems of legal, financial, housing, and social support services relevant to their needs. Twenty women who had or were living in second-stage shelters were interviewed. Analysis of interviews identified key themes around women’s information and system navigation journeys including barriers to entry into services, the "full-time job" of navigating support systems, tensions between individual needs and shelter policies, and the shared wisdom among shelter residents. Based on these themes, the resultant grounded theory was navigating the maze of unknowns. These findings highlight the need for integrated, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approaches in policy and practice to enhance survivors’ access to information, services, and supports, offered in a respectful manner that balances women’s unique need for safety while enhancing their independence. By fostering a sense of community and tailored support, second-stage shelters can better support women to rebuild their lives and facilitate long-term safety and stability. This work contributes to the broader discourse on IPV by illuminating the intersections of personal experiences, structural violence, and systemic inequities, providing actionable insights for improving shelter systems and supporting survivors of IPV.