The narratives of domestic violence survivors who lived in a Shelter

Abstract

This study explores the narratives of domestic violence survivors who lived in a shelter and the perceived assistance received. Narrative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten survivors of domestic violence who made use of the three main shelter services in Malta. These narratives were triangulated with interviews conducted with shelter professionals. The stories collected were analysed using narrative and thematic analysis. This process yielded four main themes: a) The Start of a Journey - A Time for Adaptation; b) The Shelter - A Haven for Safety and Security; c) Weathering the Difficulties - Dealing with Distress, and d) The End of a Journey. The Onset of Another. The findings suggest that despite the complexity of the shelter environment, the participants, with the help of dedicated staff members, made great leaps forward towards their struggle for survival, and emerged triumphantly. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are also discussed.