Strength in Numbers

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, shelters are here for you. Call 1-866-331-3933, or go to acws.ca/shelters to find shelters across Alberta that are here to help.

ACWS was founded over 40 years ago on the principle that together, we are stronger. Our members continue to prove that principle every day. The work domestic violence and elder abuse shelters do takes incredible courage, resilience and tenacity. Domestic violence and elder abuse shelters work to change the lives of thousands of survivors and their children across the province every single day. The collective impact of this work is astounding.

In Alberta in 2023-2024, domestic violence and elder abuse shelters:

• Answered 53,391 calls for help.

• Provided over 50,000 services to survivors and their children.

• Completed over 20,000 referrals to connect survivors to other supports and services.

• Served more than 14,000 people.

• Admitted 8,136 survivors and their children to in-shelter programs

We hope that you, like us, are inspired by the impact domestic violence and elder abuse shelters have on the lives of so many Albertans. We hope that you join us in our continued mission to ensure that all Albertans can live free from violence and abuse.

Together, We Can End Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence shelters in Alberta are crucial lifelines for adult and child survivors of domestic violence and abuse. However, the domestic violence sector in Alberta is facing incredible challenges like rising inflation, higher costs of living and limited funding. They are also still grappling with the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We cannot end domestic violence and abuse without your help. Domestic violence and abuse is an everyone problem, and it needs an everyone solution. Together, we can give survivors of domestic violence the best chance to live a life of freedom and safety. Here are some simple actions you can take to help:

Act

• Support ACWS by making a donation.
• Make ACWS or an ACWS member part of your planned giving. Contact voice@acws.ca for more information.
• Learn more about domestic abuse by taking one of our online courses or reading more of our research.
• Book an ACWS Leading Change workshop or training session for your community or workplace.
• Support a local domestic violence shelter by making a monetary or in-kind donation. Find a shelter near you here.
• Volunteer at a domestic violence shelter. Contact a domestic violence shelter in your community to ask about volunteer opportunities.

Advocate

• Speak or write to your MLA or MP about increasing funding for domestic violence and elder abuse shelters in Alberta.
• Spread the word! Share the key takeaways of this report with your family, friends, and colleagues. You can find our easy-to-share social media posts on our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Jenny Adams – The Adams Agency
780-707-9107
jenny@theadamsagency.ca