By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Women’s Shelters Struggling Nationally and Locally

Apr 28, 2016 | 5:40 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses is calling for a national action plan on violence against women.

That comes after the third annual Shelter Voices survey was released Thursday, showing that almost three quarters of women and children trying to escape domestic violence were turned away because of a lack of space.

Lethbridge YWCA CEO, Jennifer Lepko, noted that our city is seeing the same problems at their Harbour House shelter.

“Definitely a desperate crisis where we need more beds, I mean our numbers are showing that,” explained Lepko. “Two years ago our turn-away rate was around 450-500, and now we’re seeing the 2,000 mark.”

Lepko stated that a major part of the increase is likely tied to the economy, “When we see people out of work, when we see people struggling or a change in their economic status, it increases stresses. They still have mortgages to pay, they still have car payments, all these things and suddenly they don’t have an income. It increases stresses and we see an increase in addictions.”

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While they can’t always offer a bed and somewhere to stay, she noted that they still provide as much support as possible, and hopefully point them to another shelter with space available.

Lepko stated that when women can’t find room at a shelter, they’re often forced to go back to their abuser, “If they’re coming to the shelter, that’s because they have no other options. Leaving an abusive situation is hard enough as it is, but when you are faced with having to flee to a shelter, there are no other options.”

While there’s no easy solution to the growing issue across the country, Lepko agrees that a national action plan would give a stronger voice to the government and hopefully bring greater awareness to the problem. She added that by calling somebody if you see a situation of domestic violence or by volunteering and helping those impacted, you can start to make a difference too.

Of course they are always in need of donations as well. Lepko says clothing and household supplies are especially important, as most women come to the shelter with little more than the clothes on their back.

To find out more about upcoming fundraisers for the local YWCA and how you can get involved, visit ywcalethbridge.org.