Travel restrictions in north affecting woman fleeing abuse: advocates
When a North Saskatchewan woman fleeing domestic violence was released from hospital recently, she returned home to her abuser, feeling uncertain about taking her children away with her while travel is restricted during the pandemic.
“We don’t know all the stories that are happening,” said Carole Soles, executive director of Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women. “That’s just the one I know.”
She suspects there’s more. Her shelter has seen hikes in traffic on its website and hotline since the start of the pandemic, which has escalated the risks of domestic violence for women stuck in small households stressed by economic hardship.
The shelter is typically 90 to 95 per cent full for its 26-person capacity, but Soles said occupancy numbers are the lowest she’s seen in more than 20 years working there, partly due to travel restrictions enforced on the province’s north.
It marks an impossible choice for northern residents fleeing domestic violence: endure an abusive partner, or risk uncertain travel to a shelter. For them, the lack of intercity bus service had already complicated matters.
“Transportation was an issue before the pandemic, and it certainly has gotten worse,” said Jo-anne Dusel, executive director of the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS).
Dusel said there have been instances of women on reserves learning that they, and whoever drove them, couldn’t return until the pandemic and restrictions subsided.
She said RCMP had transported people in some remote communities, but in some other cases police weren’t able to provide that service.
“Our first priority is the safety of the victim and we do whatever we can to facilitate the safety of the victim,” RCMP Cpl. Rob King said, noting police had previously provided transportation to people fleeing domestic violence.
The provincial government has deemed fleeing domestic violence as an essential type of travel, said Christopher Clemett, spokesman for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
“No person will be left in a position of danger, and travel related to fleeing domestic violence, this is considered essential,” he said.
In 2018, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of intimate partner violence of any province, according to a December Statistics Canada report. That’s 4,763 incidents, or 1,066 per 100,000 people.
Shelters like the one in Prince
Albert remain open, Dusel said, and many have space and arrangements for other safe locations if there’s no vacancy, or to meet social distancing needs.
The issue is that shelters have seen drops in clients over the past two months, she said, noting the low mobility among women fleeing abusive partners. Isolation would increase the risk, she said. To offer support, PATHS has recently released a Getting Out Guide for women.
“If I’m not walking down the
Transportation was an issue before the pandemic, and it certainly has gotten worse.
street, no one can see that I have bruises, or see that I’m upset. If I’m not able to go to work or see my family and friends, no one is going to know that I may need help and support,” Dusel said.
Soles said a “tsunami” is bound to happen once restrictions ease and travel opens up.
When the federal government released $50 million for shelters in March, it was of some help, Soles said, but she was deeply concerned in the meantime. Her shelter has been able to arrange transport and accommodations in the past, but the current situation is troubling.
“My biggest fear is they’re stuck and they can’t get out,” she said.
If you are experiencing intimate partner violence or are concerned about your safety, call 211 for information about safe shelters in your community or visit the PATHS website for links to agencies’ websites.