Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters 2022 Data Release

What happens when someone calls and we do not have room?

Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS)’s new Data Release reveals that shelters across Alberta receive far more requests for help than our resources can answer. This is true for Jessie’s House too – in the first 11 months of 2022, we received 1,500 admission calls, with 329 of those calls leading to new admissions. We have also consistently been at or near capacity – 136 days at 100% capacity and generally at 87% capacity.

When Jessie’s House is full, we work to offer whatever other supports we can. Our staff provide a danger assessment, safety planning, or referral to our Outreach Team to provide support in the community.
However, 72% of the survivors who completed danger assessments in emergency shelters said they were at severe or extreme risk of being killed by their partner or ex-partner.

The fact of the matter is that the work that we do saves lives. Shelters need adequate funding to recruit and retain qualified staff. We need more safe and affordable housing options in Alberta. Together, we can work to create a future free of domestic violence for all individuals.