WOMEN'S SHELTER SEEKING SUPPORT TO MEET GROWING DEMANDS

NEW BRAMPTON SHELTER WORKING TO SERVE WAIT-LISTED CLIENTS, SEEKING FUNDING FOR OVERFLOW CAPACITY

Since opening its doors in July, the Women and Children Precious Shelter in Brampton has been flooded with calls and requests to help women fleeing domestic violence.

"We've been at capacity since we've been open," said shelter director Tamara Whilby. "One of the challenges we're having is the funding."

Since opening, the shelter has taken in 21 women and has 30 more on a wait list.

While on the wait list, shelter staff work to connect clients with Dufferin-Caledon Victim services, housing support, counselling and various other resources.

Women and Children Precious Shelter has social work students who help each family and work to understand their unique situations, connecting them with what they need.

Whilby said one other concern often is citizenship and status.

The shelter has received four calls from the local airport, seeking help for a woman who has arrived fleeing an unsafe situation abroad.

Other women, whose status is tied to their partner, who in some cases is their abuser, are afraid to leave out of fear of losing their ability to stay in Canada.

The executive director of the shelter is an immigration consultant and works to help ease those fears.

Whilby said they have been successful in helping with the process of removing a spouse from one woman's residency application.

"The next step is to get them on their feet," Whilby said, explaining that over the course of three months, staff help to find the women apartments, employment, set up schooling and focus on health and wellness.

There are yoga classes at the shelter, arts and crafts for children, cooking classes and more.

So far, the shelter has successfully helped eight women to leave abusive situations and find housing.

Those women have also started jobs and pursued schooling.

"We help them to where they need to go," Whilby said.

The organization has received support from the City of Brampton and Region of Peel, but is struggling to meet the demands. The goal would eventually be to build overflow capacity, in order to provide immediate shelter to more families.

Staff have their fingers crossed for provincial funding that they have applied for and continue to advocate for more consistent funding.

To donate, visit the Women and Children Precious Shelter website at wcpreciousshelter.ca.

If you are a woman in crisis, contact the shelter at 437-8553301.