(Photo courtesy of CAWES)

By Sheldon Spackman

Situation Critical

CAWES remains dedicated to women and children fleeing domestic violence, despite pandemic

Nov 26, 2020 | 2:51 PM

Officials with Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter (CAWES) are sounding the alarm over an increase in severity of cases they are seeing and an increase in risk for their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revelation aligns with recent results from a national survey that indicate 52 per cent of Canadian women’s shelters saw an increase in the severity of violence that the women they were serving had experienced during the pandemic.

According to statistics released by CAWES, crisis calls have increased year over year from 243 in October, 2019, to 330 last month.

The number of Intensive Case Management (ICM) clients has also increased, from 63 in October of last year, to 122 in October of this year.

The number of residential clients, however, dropped from 37 in October, 2019, to 31 in October, 2020.

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Rayann Toner, Executive Director for CAWES, says the pandemic has created a layer of isolation on their most vulnerable clients which has enhanced their risk.

“With limited access to transportation, community services, resources and employment, the pandemic has increased the hardship of leaving an abusive relationship,” she explains. “Our clients face increased isolation in an already dangerous and precarious situation at home. When women leave their relationship and home, they step into poverty or financial instability, which rings true now more than ever.”

Another trend of note, says Toner, is an increase in vulnerable women needing food hampers.

“CAWES is limited in terms of what we can provide in this avenue,” she admits. “Food security is a huge challenge for vulnerable women and children in our community.”

After being “eerily quiet” during the early days of the pandemic, Toner says client needs have since increased, with the holiday season now expected to add to those pressures.

“Christmas can be a very stressful time for families,” suggests Toner. “Therefore, with the added pressure of the pandemic and the downturn of the economy, we anticipate that the holiday season will be extremely busy and women will be connecting before and after for support, services, information and resources.”

Toner says CAWES is the only emergency domestic violence shelter in our local area.

“Therefore, the demands on our services have always extended our resources beyond their capacity, which is why our dream of a new shelter is a priority,” she remarks.

Until then, they’ll do the best that they can for their clients, says Toner.

“CAWES usually has around 40 full and part time staff and over 200 volunteers,” she explains. “For safety reasons, in response to COVID-19, CAWES has suspended volunteer participation at this time. When this changes, CAWES will connect with volunteers to re-engage.”

Toner says what’s most important though, is that women and children fleeing domestic violence, do have a place to go for help.

“For the families in our area, there is our Nurturing Parenting Program that provides trauma informed support for parents,” shares Toner. “The stress of parenting through this pandemic is unparalleled and CAWES would like to be able to provide kind, compassionate and helpful support. For women and children fleeing abuse, the shelter is the safest place to be.”

CAWES provides safety planning, risk assessment and risk management, food, shelter, and other programs and services for women and children fleeing domestic violence in central Alberta.

A National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women event will be held virtually and hosted by various community agencies, including CAWES, on Dec. 6 at 3:00 p.m.