The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) announced the 2023 Data Release yesterday. This report shines a light on what we have been seeing at Jessie’s House: we receive more calls for help, survivors are at a higher risk of being murdered by their abuser, and the abuse they have experienced is worse than before.
Key findings include:
- Last year, shelters received 59,215 calls from people seeking support.
- Abuse is not just physical. More than three-quarters (76%) experienced verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse.
- Half of the survivors had experienced physical abuse, with 40% experiencing sexual assault. 57% of survivors reported that physical abuse had gotten worse over the past year.
- 75% of clients served by Alberta shelters need more help meeting their basic needs, and 76% have experienced moderate to high barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing.
- 61.5% of survivors experience moderate to high exposure to systemic oppression and marginalization. These intersections, such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, disability, medical supports, or language barriers, mean that clients require a higher level of support.
- Shelters are prepared to meet these challenges. We have helped almost half (45%) of our clients successfully complete their program and meet their goals, with 81% of survivors making progress with at least one goal.
What does it all mean? Alberta shelters are receiving more calls for help than we can answer. Shelters are consistently at capacity, and we are experiencing new challenges with the cost of living and affordable housing. The abuse faced by our clients is worse than ever before, and their complex circumstances mean they require extra support.
This is no exception for Jessie’s House. 51% of survivors believed their partner was capable of killing them, and 42% had been strangled by their partner. We are founded in memory of Jessica Martel, who was murdered by her partner as she tried to leave. This is why we are here – to prevent this from happening again.
