Women's refuges busy

Women's refuges across the country say December has been busier than usual with many safe houses full and a high demand for community services.

National spokeswoman Sarah Pomeroy said Christmas was a time when women often strove to keep their families together and sought community help and advice from the refuges to allow them to do this.

This meant there was not generally a big influx into safe houses until January/February, but this month many of those houses had been full in the lead-up to Christmas.

The biggest increase for refuges had been in community work and refuges had also received a large number of police referrals.

More women seeking help this year said poverty had been a factor for them, Ms Pomeroy said.

"There were families who have really exhausted all their other resources and they're actually relying on refuges to help feed their children."

She said refuges had also seen a big drop in donated gifts and she urged people to think about donating any unwanted Christmas presents to refuges.

Many had also reported an increase in the number of young women, aged 16 to 24, seeking help, many of whom had experienced family violence as children.

"But [the refuges] are saying the positive thing is that they are coming in with their own children, but they are asking for help ... they want to break the cycle early and are actually recognising it at a young age. That's been quite strong trend."

She said exact figures of how many people had used refuge services this festive season would be compiled over the next few months.

- NZPA