Alberta Fact Sheet

The Transition Home Survey is conducted on a biennial basis as part of the federal government's Family Violence Initiative. The 2003/04 questionnaire was sent to 543 shelters in Canada known to be providing residential services for women victims of abuse and their children. Responses were received from 473 shelters (87%).

The questionnaire was sent to 43 facilities in Alberta and responses were received from 98% of the shelters.

There were 13,707 admissions of women and dependant children reported from April 1, 2003 to March 31 2004¹

A profile of residents, April 14, 2004

In a snapshot taken on April 14, 2004 , there were 728 residents in shelters in Alberta : 54% (395) were women and 46% (333) were dependant children.

76% (299) of women residing in shelters on April 14, 2004 , were victims of abuse and the remainder were admitted for reasons other than abuse, such as housing problems. Of those admitted for abuse,² 90% were fleeing psychological abuse, 68% physical abuse, 62% financial abuse, 54% threats, 37% sexual abuse, and 27% harassment.

55% of women escaping abusive situations were admitted with their children; 73% (233) of these children were under 10 years of age.

37% of women with parental responsibilities who were admitted for abuse indicated that they were also protecting their children from psychological abuse, 36% from witnessing the abuse of their mother, 20% from threats, 17% from physical abuse, and 11% from neglect.³

57% of abused women indicated that their spouse or partner was the abuser, 18% were abused by a former spouse or partner, 9% by a relative, 2% by someone from a current or ex-dating relationship, 7% were abused by others and for 7%, the relationship was unknown.⁴

The most common sources of referral for women residing in shelters on April 14 th , 2004 , were: self-referral (29%), another transition house (17%), another community agency (13%), and family or friends (5%).⁵

Half of women residing in shelters on April 14, 2004 , had been there before. 17% of repeat clients had been there once in the last year, 68% had been there 2 to 4 times and 6% had been there 5 or more times.⁶

Among women leaving the shelter on snapshot day 27% each left for new accommodations without their spouse or partner, went to another agency, or went to reside with friends or relatives. Another 9% returned home without their spouse or partner. Only 9% returned to their spouse or partner.

27% of abused women had reported police intervention for the most recent violent incident to police and, in 54% of these reported cases charges were laid against the abuser.

A profile of shelters, 2003/04

95% of shelters served urban/suburban populations, 48% served rural/village populations and 50% served reserve populations.

6 (14%) of shelters were located on a reserve, 14% of shelters were owned by a band council and 10% were operated by a band council.

The majority of shelters offered the following in-house services to women residents: advocacy (95%), individual short-term counselling (90%), services for aboriginal women (86%), housing referral (83%) and services for ethno-cultural or visible minority women (83%).

Facilities also provided in-house services to non-resident women who in need of assistance. These services included: crisis telephone lines (74%), advocacy (71%), individual short-term counselling (64%), and culturally sensitive services for aboriginal women (57%).

In-house services offered to resident children included: programs for child witnesses or victims of abuse (83%), outdoor and indoor recreation spaces, each provided by 81% of shelters, culturally sensitive services for aboriginal children (69%), and individual counselling (62%).

83% of shelters reported at least one building entrance that was wheelchair accessible, 76% reported having bathrooms that were wheelchair accessible and 69% reported having bedrooms that were wheelchair accessible. 24% offered services to people who are blind or visually impaired and 19% offered services to people who are deaf or hearing impaired.

42 facilities reported providing a total of 1,906 outreach⁷ hours per week.

Footnotes

1. The precise reporting period may vary. Shelters were asked to provide information for the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2004 or their own twelve month fiscal period.

2. Totals do not add to 100% due to multiple responses.

3. Totals do not add to 100% due to multiple responses. 'Women with parenting responsibilities' include women admitted to shelters with their children and women admitted without their children. However, it is not known if women admitted without their children had custody of those children at the time of admittance.

4. 'Others' includes friend or acquaintance.

5. Totals do not add to 100% due to multiple responses.

6. For some repeat clients the number of times they had been to the shelter previously was unknown.

7. Outreach work included supplying information, accompanying victims to court, meeting with clients to discuss possibilities/options, and participating in drop-in centres. While shelters varied in the number of hours of outreach provided, the provincial average was 45 hours per week.