Yellowknife woman living in tent after assault leaves her with few housing options
Jackie Sitter lost her home in Yellowknife after an attack by a former boyfriend put her in the hospital. She drives a taxi at night, but she doesn't make enough money to afford an apartment yet. Though there is an emergency women's shelter in town, she is not permitted to stay there during the day -- which, given her work hours, is when she needs to sleep.
Sitter has been been living in a tent since the summer. Now, winter is coming.
She spoke to As It Happens host Carol Off about her ordeal. Here is an excerpt from their conversation:
CAROL OFF: Jackie, can you tell us how it came to be that you lost your place where you were living?
JACKIE SITTER: My ex-boyfriend came over, it was about 3:30 am on a Saturday night, after the bar closed. He came over drunk, decided he wanted in. He broke the door down and then he held me against the door, restraining me. I was able to escape. He followed me outside. He put me down in the snow, strangled me right beside my front step. I had gone unconscious. When I regained consciousness I realized he was inside. He's sleeping in my bed. When he'd come in, I'd just been woken up. I had just thrown on a housecoat and some slippers. As I ran six or seven blocks to the nearest place that I could find with a light on, that I could knock on the door, ask for help, then my slippers fell off. I ran that entire time with no slippers, in bare feet, in the snow.
CO: So you couldn't get back into your place, you couldn't live there again?
JS: I was too scared to go back, he could come back and do it again at any time. He was free. He was never put in jail.
CO: He was never charged for this assault on you?
JS: He was charged. He was sentenced with one year probation and a restraining order, that was it.
CO: So you have a job, but you work nights. I understand that at the shelter, you can't stay and sleep there in the day?
JS: That's correct. The manager of the shelter said that if they make allowances for people who are working, for people to sleep there in the day, then other people will come in with doctor's notes saying they're allergic to the sun.
CO: In Yellowknife, is there any other place for a woman to go, like yourself, while you're getting life back together, and where you feel safe from your ex?
JD: I have my car, so when it gets to be too cold, I have my car. I know other women who live in abandoned vehicles. I don't know what they're going to do. I'm lucky, because I have a car that runs, I can drive and warm up.
CO: I'm so sorry you're going through all this. I hope there's a response in your community, people might reach out and help you, and others. I really appreciate you speaking with us.
JS: Thank you. I didn't do this story for myself, I wanted it for other women to show there are so many other women out there, across Canada. I've had lots of people tell me they're so glad I've done this story because they can speak out now, finally.
You can read more about this story here and listen to the full interview by clicking the Listen button above.