Multi-Femmes is a non-profit community organization, member of Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale.
Our mission
Helping women victims of domestic violence and their children by providing them with accommodation, safety, a listening ear, and support. It also involves denouncing domestic violence as a societal issue rather than an individual one and advocating for women’s rights in society at large.
Our objectives
- Denounce domestic violence in all its forms;
- Provide a safe place for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence;
- Inform women about their rights;
- Assist in recognizing attitudes and behaviors associated with domestic violence;
- Help mothers and all individuals identify the impacts of domestic violence on women and children;
- Promoting women’s autonomy;
- Breaking isolation;
- Increase your self-esteem;
- Raise public awareness of domestic violence.
Our history
- 1975: The Centre de la Femme Nouvelle, comprised of woman law students and woman lawyers, was created to assist women in various legal proceedings. These women quickly realize that it can be dangerous for victims of domestic violence still living with their partners to seek legal advice. Based on this realization, they decided to establish a shelter, a safe and confidential place, to help women victims of domestic violence and their children.
- 1977: Centre de la Femme Nouvelle founds Centre Refuge Montréal, one of the first shelters on the island of Montreal.
- 1984: Centre Refuge Montréal changes its name to Multi-Femmes.
- 1993: Multi-Femmes establishes a 2nd-stage resource: Multi-Femmes Deux. Six housing units are then provided for a maximum period of one year to women and children who have previously stayed in a 1st-stage shelter.
- 2006: Multi-Femmes, thanks to new funding from the Programme de Soutien aux Organismes Communautaires (PSOC), is able to offer structured services to former residents and their children, as well as to women and children who do not require accommodation, known as ” external services “.