Sending support to Alberta domestic violence shelters in ‘Love a Shelter’ campaign

Throughout February, some Alberta shelters have been receiving special Valentine’s cards — messages of encouragement and appreciation from students and members of the public.

The “Love a Shelter” campaign kicked off at the beginning of the month at schools across the province.

Students have been invited to write a letter to staff at their local domestic violence shelter. These groups do prevention work in communities and at schools to help foster an understanding of healthy relationships at an early age.

“In order to break the cycle of violence and change culture, that work needs begins at a young age,” said Leslie Allen, the executive director of WIN House in Edmonton.

“In shelters, on a daily basis, we see the pain and trauma that gender-based violence and domestic violence causes. Family violence impacts both adults and children, deeply,” she said.

“We can help develop safer communities over time by working with children and teaching them what healthy relationships look like, as well as making sure they know where they can turn to if they need help if abuse is happening at home.”

This exercise in understanding and appreciation isn’t just for students; other members of the public are also invited to send a Valentine to shelter staff.

3:40 Give Me Shelter: WIN House domestic violence shelter consistently at capacity

The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) says shelters across the province are struggling to meet the rising demand — and to deal with increasingly complex cases — for services.

The Love a Shelter letters are a way Albertans can push for change, while also letting survivors of domestic violence know that they are supported by their communities.

“Each heart represents the labour of love that domestic violence shelters undertake to support those fleeing violence and abuse,” said ACWS founder Jan Reimer, “and how the community supports those who have taken the courageous steps towards violence-free lives.

For a list of Alberta shelters and their mailing addresses, click here.

For a map of all the Alberta domestic abuse shelters and their contact numbers, click here.

Last year, an ACWS report found thousands of women and children were turned away from Alberta women’s shelters.

The data found that between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, shelters received 65,390 calls for support. Of those calls, 25,530 were requests for admission to a shelter. The ACWS said in only 16.6 per cent of those cases was shelter able to be provided.

The ACWS said 11,546 requests for admission were by women and seniors who had to be turned away due to shelters being at physical capacity. More than 6,200 children would have accompanied these women and seniors, according to the ACWS.

9:06 Edmonton woman shares story of surviving domestic violence

Across Alberta last fiscal year, 3,373 children were admitted to ACWS member shelters with their mothers.

The ACWS recently launched an online training platform with a course designed for people who work with children who may have been exposed to domestic violence.

The Healing Brain: Supporting Children from Trauma to Resilience curriculum is designed for teachers, daycare workers, coaches and anyone who works with children. It gives participants a better understanding of early childhood brain development, the impacts of trauma on children and how to nurture resilience in children who have been exposed to domestic violence.

“Working with children who have been exposed to domestic violence is one of the major prevention tactics that can be used to interrupt the cycle of violence from continuing into future generations,” said Mel Willerth, the ACWS’ program development and training co-ordinator.

“This curriculum was developed because children represent a large percentage of the residents who are served at shelters across Alberta, but it also has wide application beyond shelters — it’s very useful material for anyone working with children in the broader community.”

1:28 Alberta women’s shelters are under-resourced, leading people to be turned away: 2022 report

Shelter Mailing Addresses

You can also donate to a specific ACWS member shelter.

Brenda Stafford Centre (Brenda Strafford Foundation Heart Home Network) – Box 61141, Kensington Postal Outlet, T2N 4S6, Calgary

Cantara Safe House (Brooks and District Women’s Safe Shelter Society) – PO Box 1045, T1R 1B8, Brooks

Camrose Women’s Shelter (Camrose Women’s Shelter Society) – PO Box 1405, T4V 1X3, Camrose

Maskan (Canadian Pakistani Support Group Association) – 477 Livingstone View NE, Calgary

Capella Centre (Capella Centre Alberta)- PO Box 1237, T0A 3A0, St.Paul

Lurana Shelter (Catholic Social Services) – 12431 Stony Plain Road , T5N 3N3, Edmonton

Julietta’s Place (Central Alberta Outreach Society) – 4101 54 Ave, T4N 7G3, Red Deer

Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter (Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter Society) – PO Box 561- T4N 5G1

Discovery House (Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society) – Po Box 58058 Alberta Park PO T2A 7R7

Cochranes women’s shelters society – Box 1544 T4C 1B5

Edmonton Women’s Shelter Ltd. – PO Box 20088 RPO Beverly T5W 5E6

Crossroads resource centre (Fairview and District Women’s Centre Association) – Box 1194 T0H 1L0

Grande Cache Transition House (Grande Cache Transition House Society) – Box 1242 T0E 0Y0

Odyssey House / Serenity Place (Grande Prairie Women’s Residence Association) – Box 1395 T8V 0J5

Hope Haven Women’s Shelter (Hope Haven Society) – PO Box 2168 T0A 2C0

Jessie House (Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation) – Box 3167 T8R 1S1

Kerby Rotary Shelter (Kerby Assembly) – 1133 7th Ave SW T2P 1B2

Dol Mar Manor / Lloydminster Interval Home (Lloydminster Interval Home Society Inc.) – PO Box 1523 S9V 1K5

Musasa House/ Phoenix Safe House – Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society – PO Box 1523 S9V 1K5

Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (Rocky Mountain House) – PO Box 325 T4T 1A3

Northern Haven Northern Haven Support Society – PO Box 1433 T0G 2A0

Safe Home (Northwest Alberta Resource Society) – PO Box 396 T0H 1Z0

Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter (Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter Society) – PO Box 7738 T8S 1T3

Pincher Creek Women’s Emergency Shelter (Pincher Creek Women’s Emergency Shelter Association) – PO Box 2092 T0K 1W0

Rowan House Emergency Shelter (Rowan House Society) – PO Box 5121 T1V 1M3

Safe Haven (Safe Haven Women’s Shelter Society) – PO Box 4113 T1G 2C6

Sage Seniors Safe House (Sage Seniors Association) – 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square T5J 2E5

Sonshine Centre (Sonshine Society of Christian Community Services) – PO Box 34067 RPO Westbrook T3C 3W2

Stepping Stones Crisis Society – PO Box 419 T9M 1P1

Eagle’s Nest Stoney Family Shelter (Stoney Tribal Administration) – PO Box 820 T0L 1N0

A Safe Place (Strathcona Shelter Society Ltd.) – PO 3282 T8H 2T2

Sucker Creek Women’s Emergency Shelter (Sucker Creek Women’s Emergency Shelter Society) – P.O. Box 231 T0G 0W0

Unity House (Waypoints Community Services Association) – #100 – 130 Prospect Drive T9K 2Z5

Wellspring Family Resource and Crisis Centre (Wellspring Family Resource & Crisis Centre Society) – 5116 51 Ave T7S 1A1

Wheatland Shelter (Wheatland Crisis Society) – PO Box 2162 T1P 1K2

Wings of Providence – (Wings of Providence Society Ltd.) – PO Box 32141 T6K 4C2

Bow Valley Emergency Shelter (YWCA of Banff) – PO Box 520

YWCA Harbour House (YWCA of Lethbridge & District) – 604 8 Street S T1J 2K1

Yellowhead Emergency Shelter (Yellowhead Emergency Shelter) – PO Box 6401 T7V 1X7