Staff at the Awo Taan Healing Lodge are taking in more calls than ever from women facing potentially dangerous situations. The Calgary women’s shelter has had to turn away about 300 women and children every month since the start of this year.
“We have seen an increase in the number of crisis calls that are coming into the shelter requesting space. And this is for women and children who are fleeing violent situations and need to leave the home because there is imminent danger,” said Josie Nepinak, executive director of the Awo Taan Healing Lodge.
Kimberley, who didn’t want her last name used, has been staying at the shelter for the past several weeks.
“I just had to leave for the safety of myself and my children. So I reached out and found the number online and called and said I was having troubles at home. It was getting violent.”
Despite her situation, she considers herself one of the lucky ones, just because she was able to get in with her children.
“It was very important because had I not come here, if things got even more violent, it might’ve gone to the worst, who knows?
If they would’ve told me there is no room, sorry I have to stay where I was, where it wasn’t safe for myself and my family, it would’ve been a very hopeless situation.”
The calls that are coming into the Awo Taan Healing Lodge are also from families who have suffered economic hardship, many with family members who have been laid off and turned to food banks.
“Many of them are asking, ‘where can I access programs and services that don’t cost me any money?’ because the economic trend in Calgary has been that we are seeing increasing family stress as well because of the economics,” said Nepinak.
“There is family stress and there is less money coming in and folks may be turning to other means to cope.”
But getting into a shelter is just the beginning. Those who are staying often end up second guessing their decision, wondering if it was right to pack up the kids and leave their home.
“Maybe I’m exaggerating,” ponders Kimberley. “Or maybe you should kind of let it just play out and it might get better. But I think it was the best decision I could’ve made for myself and my family so I’m glad I came.”
Staff at the healing lodge were hoping that finding rental accomodation for famliies would be easier with the economic downturn, but they say house rental is still expensive in Calgary.
“With the cost of housing, women are being pushed into poverty and being pushed further into vulnerable positions to make ends meet using their child tax credit to supplement the rent as well as for food,” said Nepinak.
Kimberley now spends her days looking for a place to rent but she says she’s been turned down several times when landlords find out she is aboriginal, has four kids and is staying at a women’s shelter.
“I’m going through this and it’s a temporary thing. This is like a stepping stone and this is my one step and I am going to leap on to my next step. It can only get better.”
A spokesman at the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter says there has been a steady demand in crisis calls this year. Last year, more than 1,800 women and 1,300 children could not be accommodated due to lack of available space at the shelter.
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