Women’s shelters brace for an increase in demand
‘Calls are always coming in. The goal right now is to get all the most vulnerable ... safe,’ YWCA head says
Workers at Niagara women’s shelters are bracing for “the perfect storm” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“It definitely is a challenge,” said Lisa Rice from YWCA Niagara Region.
She said the organization has already begun to see increased demand for services, in the weeks since the pandemic was declared.
“The calls are always coming in. The goal right now is to get all the most vulnerable in and safe, and I think it’s just finding the space for that to happen while also ensuring social distancing at the same time,” said Rice, who works as a team lead at the YWCA’s Niagara Falls emergency shelter.
“With COVID-19, we’re just putting in the measures to ensure we’re taking the folks in that we need to take in, and hoping there will be funding to get the other folks in.”
Rice said demand for the YWCA’s services is expected to increase more, as seasonal Out of the Cold programs wrap up a week before schedule.
“It’s definitely difficult, but we’re managing,” she said. “We have a wonderful team and a wonderful executive director.”
Jennifer Gauthier, executive director for Women’s Place of South Niagara, described the situation as “the perfect storm” for domestic violence — economic stresses, kids at home, poverty, being locked inside together.
“We’re looking at any option we can. If we have to go over our capacity to make sure women and children are safe, we’re going to do it whether that involves us renting out floors of hotels,” she said. “We will make it happen.”
While bracing for “a huge influx of calls” for help, she said the capacity at its shelters has been reduced to 20 as a result of social isolation requirements.
The organization has also been hard hit financially.
“We’re losing some of our biggest fundraising events,” Gauthier said. “Just to keep our doors open we have to fund raise $550,000 a year, and we’ve lost a number of third-party events, golf tournaments and things like that already. We’re looking at some big economic losses for us.”
Donations can be made online at https://womensplacesn.org/ give-help/make-a-donation/. Niagara Regional Police Const. Phil Gavin said police have yet to see a significant increase in the number of domestic violence calls they have received, although there are concerns the situation could change.
“We recognize that due to public health measures put in place in response to COVID-19, specifically physical distancing, women and children may be placed at increased risk from domestic violence,” Gavin said. “We support our community partners who are anticipating an increase in demand for their services and are taking steps to increase their capacity to support victims of abuse.”
Gavin said police are also concerned that incidents of domestic violence might go unreported by third parties, as a result of social isolation.
Police, he added, are “encouraging our communities to be vigilant and to look out for their neighbours, who may be vulnerable.”
Gauthier is promoting use of the Women’s Place email address ARUNova@wpsn.ca, to allow people to call for help by silently sending a message rather than speaking on the phone.
“It’s difficult to call, or to escape when you’re never by yourself,” she said.
“Women can get a hold of us without calling the crisis line and being overheard by their partner.”
But if safe to do so, she said people can also still call the 24hour support lines at 905-7880113 or 905-356-5800.