survivors deserve better. - shelters deserve better. - alberta deserves better.

The work domestic violence shelters do is crucial, integral, and necessary for the functioning of a healthy Alberta, and for the safety and wellbeing of Albertans fleeing violence. [...] This report details the systemic workforce challenges shelters are required to navigate, and it tells the story of the brave and dedicated people who continue to work on behalf of survivors even in the face of tremendous obstacles. [...] The pandemic has led to an increase both in cases of domestic violence and abuse and in the severity of domestic violence and abuse. [...] Of the ACWS members who completed the 2021-22 ACWS Workforce Survey, 69% indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in the complexity in the cases of the survivors that their organization serves. [...] The government has already committed $12.9 million in additional funding to the Office of the Chief Firearms Officer, beyond the annual funding already received by that office, for the purpose of speeding up the process of buying and transferring firearms (Short, 2022).