Record numbers turned away from Alberta shelters: report

Record numbers were turned away from shelters last year, according to an Alberta Council of Women's Shelters report, and that includes more children than ever.

A record number of people were turned away from Alberta shelters last year, according to a new report from the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS).

Without a shelter, abuse survivor Denise Summers says things could have been much worse.

“I don’t know if I’d be alive today if I hadn’t had that opportunity. It provided a safe place,” Summers said.

“It was about 25 years ago, and I was in a very violent and very abusive marriage. My ex-husband had threatened to kill me and himself. I was able to escape and eventually go to Discovery House.”

Only about 20 per cent of those who need ACWS shelters can get in.

More than 31,000 people were turned away from safe havens last year due to a lack of space.

Of those, 41 per cent were children.

The report says the lack of affordable housing, inflation, population boom, and long-term effects of the pandemic have all contributed to the struggles shelters face.

“The lack of affordable housing has such an impact on shelters. When that doesn’t exist, women are staying in shelters longer because there’s nowhere else for them to go,” ACWS executive director Cat Champagne said.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) received more than 23,000 calls about domestic violence or conflict in 2024, slightly down from 2023, but overall, the problem has been getting worse in recent years.

Lana Wells is a research fellow and instructor at the University of Calgary with a focus on the prevention of domestic violence.

She’s working to highlight the importance of abuse prevention.

“About 73 per cent of men in Calgary who have been charged with domestic violence had contact with police prior to that, and they had a domestic violence encounter,” Wells said.

“If we can get that family and man the right supports at the right time, we could potentially prevent the escalation of violence.”

Anyone experiencing abuse or violence can call 2-1-1 for help and information.

Call 9-1-1 if you’re in immediate danger.