A new report shows emergency shelters in Alberta haven’t been able to provide refuge to thousands of women fleeing domestic violence due to a lack of space.
Officials with the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA) says they received 844 calls for service between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Of those callers, 675 women requested admission with 323 women getting admitted.
Cindy Easton, Executive Director of the MRWSA says, “The main reason women get turned away from shelter is a capacity issue, meaning the emergency shelter is full.” Easton adds, of the 350 women turned away, 226 were due to capacity, nine were due to not meeting priority level established by the program, 37 were due to admissions potentially compromising the safety and security of clients already in the program, 40 were due to the program not being able to meet the person’s needs while 38 were for other reasons such as no transportation, etc.
Easton notes, the Mountain Rose Centre Emergency Shelter’s capacity is 28 women and children. As clients leave, more women (with or without children) can come into shelter so the number of women the shelter hosts monthly, fluctuates.
“Currently we are fully staffed in all services provided by the Mountain Rose Centre,” explains Easton. But she points out that over the summer, they were really struggling with a staff shortage, so in the fall they focused on hiring new staff to fill the vacant positions.
According to Easton, the Women’s Shelter has no current plans on expanding as of yet, but she further points out, the Mountain Rose Centre opened on September 1, 2019 with a focus on the future and to provide the best possible supports to people impacted by gender-based violence.
“The continued support of the community is necessary to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations in our community including women and children fleeing gender-based violence. Every donation counts whether it is a can of soup or cleaning products or cash donations, the Mountain Rose Centre needs the support of the community to keep its doors open.”
Easton says there are many volunteer opportunities at the Mountain Rose Centre for community members to become involved.
“Volunteering at the Annual Gala (Feb 24, 2023) or joining the ‘Safe-Ride’ Team to provide safe rides at events like wedding or corporate parties helps to raise valuable dollars. Also volunteering to help sort donations or assist in moving furniture to and from the MRC Sea Can in support of families moving into safe housing, is a great help to the families as well as the organization,” says Easton.
Comments