How do shelters help abused women?
• Shelters for abused women do more than provide emergency housing and food for women and their children. Services include: • counselling and support for women as they rebuild their lives after violence • counselling for children who have witnessed violence to help them heal • legal advice • assistance in finding affordable housing • community outreach: to build awareness about domestic violence • The cost of operating shelters for abused women in Canada totals more than $135 million each year.20 • Many shelters have waiting lists and are dependant on the support of their local communities to keep the doors open.
