I just want to say that if it wasn’t for the help I received from you at Agape House, I would be one of the missing or dead women in Manitoba today. I came to you in 2000 and with the help of your staff; I was able to put my life back together for myself and my children. I have been able to go back to school, got a counselling certificate and I now give back to my community as much as I can.
I have met and married a wonderful man that has never imagined the idea of hurting another human being and has helped me parent my adult children as his own. We now have 9 grandchildren and have been blessed with a second chance at life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I continue to work with families at risk with a Families First program, I am a board member for a Women’s Resource Centre, I work with new immigrant women in my community and I do some private counselling free of charge for women. You are always in my prayers.
– Past Agape House Client (Anonymous)
A Day in the Life of Canada’s Shelters
On one day in Canada, 215 shelters housed and helped 1807 women and 1587 children
An additional 1806 women and 657 were supported by outreach on the same day
47% of shelters were full; 75% of residential service requests could not be accommodated
Researchers found that while threats to the safety of a household pet increased women’s desire to leave, 56% delayed leaving due to concern about pet’s safety. 47% would have left earlier if could have brought pet to shelter with them.
Shelters are contacted by a steady flow of women seeking safety for their pets as part of their own process of leaving abuse.
Source: Shelter Voices, June 2018, Women’s Shelters Canada
