Demand surges at women's shelters with hundreds turned away

Raising a flag with the word courage written on it, community members marked International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women in front of Collingwood Town Hall on Monday.

“It is important for abused women to know that it is possible to leave an abusive relationship and start a life free from violence,” Alison Fitzgerald, My Friend's House executive director.

In Collingwood, the local organization My Friend's House, which provides shelter to women fleeing abuse, is seeing an increase in demand.

More than 100 women and children currently live at the shelter, with its out-of-office programs supporting more than 600 women.

Staff are struggling to keep up with the rising numbers.

“The number of women that we're having to turn away because we're full is increasing significantly just in the last six months, we've had to say no to 52 families, which is unheard of,” said Fitzgerald.

It's a trend that is increasing in communities throughout the province.

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In Innisfil and Barrie, community groups raised a flag to mark the day.

"We are forecasting that we will have to turn away over 600 women and children because we are full, and so I hope that the numbers speak for themselves, for the community to understand how desperate the situation is,” said Theresa MacLennan, Women and Children Shelter of Barrie executive director.

Hina Waheed is a domestic violence survivor who sought support from the Women and Children Shelter in 2018. She now sits on the board of directors and says initiatives such as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women give a voice to women needing support.

"We need everybody to support these women so that the women who are suffering, who have young kids, they should know they are not alone,” said Waheed.

Monday also marks day one of 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, something that advocates say is vital when it comes to supporting those who are fleeing gender-based violence while putting a stop to it as well.