What we’ve Learned - 1- “Stay home, stay safe” isn’t always true for those living in violence and abuse at home.

In addition to carrying the stress load that all of us are carrying during the pandemic, women living in violence and abuse during Covid-19 are: increasingly isolated often expected to flex their work more than other family members, particularly as parents of young children – which could result in additional financial stress and dependency on the abuser increasingly under the scrutiny and co. [...] 2,725 women, children, and seniors were admitted to emergency shelters across the province 300 of women and children were admitted to second-stage shelters 1,792 women, children, and seniors accessed outreach services from shelters Shelters received 21,744 calls, with 7,241 of those being for crisis support. [...] Why shelter numbers are down Across the province, ACWS members have seen a decrease in the number of women coming to shelters and describe the pandemic as an additional barrier, preventing some women experiencing domestic violence to access support from shelters because: Despite public messaging about the measures that shelters have taken to be a safe as possible, women may be fearful about catc. [...] In addition to the reduction in the number of women seeking shelter access due to COVID-19, the availability of shelter spaces is also down in some communities as a result of physical distancing requirements and how a given shelter was structured. [...] Shelters are adapting their services to meet the physical distancing, disinfecting, and isolation requirements by public health officials so they can continue to meet the safety needs of the women, children, and seniors in their communities who rely on their services.