Safe Doors, Safe Homes

The Safe Doors, Safe Homes study is currently recruiting participants.

You are invited to take part in a study by researchers at McMaster University. This study is interested in hearing your perspective about the Safe Doors, Safe Homes intervention. The Safe Doors, Safe Homes intervention provides structural safety improvements (e.g. strengthened doors, security bars, motion detectors) to the homes of female¹ survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who have separated from their abusive partner within the last five years.

The research team is a partnership between researchers at McMaster University, including at the Offord Centre for Child Studies, THRIVE Counseling Services, and the Halton Regional Police.

The primary recruitment area includes: Brampton , Brantford, Burlington, Caledonia, Cambridge, Hamilton, Kitchener, Listowel, Milton, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Orangeville, Port Dover, St. Catherine’s, Stratford, Vaughan. Waterloo, and Welland.

¹We use an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and we welcome trans women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people who identify as female in a way that is significant to them.

We are currently recruiting:

• Female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV)
• Health and social service providers who provide IPV support services to female¹ survivors of IPV

Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Our research team is looking to speak with women¹ who are 18 years of age or older, who are survivors of IPV, who are comfortable speaking English and who have separated from their abusive partner within the last five years.

If you decide to participate in the study, this would involve:

1. Sitting down with one of the researchers to have a discussion about your perceptions of the Safe Doors, Safe Homes intervention and to respond to a questionnaire about behaviours you might have experienced from a previous partner. The discussion and questionnaire with take approximately 45 to 90 minutes. We would record this discussion on an audio recorder so we can type out your responses. However, no one except the researchers located at McMaster University will know that you participated in this study.
2. To thank you for your participation, we would like to provide you with at $50.00 credit card gift card.

If you would like to participate or have any questions about participating, please contact the team’s Research Assistant, Alex Trottier: or 905-525-9140 ext. 24377.

Please note that should you choose not to participate, this will NOT affect any current or future service that you receive from THRIVE Counselling Services, Halton Regional Police Services or McMaster University.

Health and social service providers who provide IPV support services to female survivors of IPV

Our research team is looking to speak with health and social service providers who provide IPV support services to female¹ survivors of IPV. Eligible health and social service providers are those who provide IPV support services, who are comfortable speaking English and who are 18 years of age or older.

If you decide to participate in the study, this would involve:

1. Sitting down with one of the researchers to have a discussion about your perceptions of the Safe Doors, Safe Homes intervention for approximately 45 to 90 minutes. We would record this discussion on an audio recorder so we can type out your responses. However, no-one except the researchers located at McMaster University will know that you participated in this study.
2. To thank you for your participation, we would like to provide you with at $35.00 credit card gift card.

If you would like to participate or have any questions about participating, please contact the team’s Research Assistant, Alex Trottier: or 905-525-9140 ext.24377.

Please note that should you choose not to participate, this will NOT affect your employment position or any current or future service that you receive from THRIVE Counselling Services, Halton Regional Police Services or McMaster University.