With the Rise in Domestic Violence, Women Seek Shelter in Various Organizations in Canada.

By Gurleen Buttar

With the evolving pandemic, domestic violence cases did not stop rising due to the alarming amount of stress people are experiencing. With frequent lockdowns, this pandemic makes violence in homes more recurrent and more deadly.

New research shows how more women have been subjected to domestic violence during the past two years. According to Marianne Hostel, a Bristol University sociologist who studies abusive relationships says,’ Domestic violence tends to go up whenever families spend time together.’ The government is trying to manage a crisis that experts believe they should have seen coming. Canada’s Assaulted Women Helpline received over 70 thousand calls from April. 1 – December. 31. Since the pandemic started, victims of domestic violence were no longer able to take trips outside of the house to get help.
The victims have fewer or no options to escape from this intimate terrorism. Yvonne Harding, manager of the organization’s resource development, said that they had received government fundings to expand their service to the expanding crisis. The Canadian police forces have seen a spike in domestic violence cases reported. From a simple quarrel to violence, the Canada Statistic Analysis confirmed it has risen to 12% compared to 2019.

The YWCA shelters said that they had to turn away women fleeing from violence due to the public health guidelines and social distancing. With the help of shelters like the YWCA in Toronto who are slowly re-opening to capacity, they may provide a safe environment to those in need. The YWCA provides mental counseling and legal services to women looking to leave their homes forever or have kids in some instances. Nancy Ross, assistant professor at Dalhousie’s School of Social Work and Studies, explains the factors that brought about this increase in domestic violence cases and the reduced ability for victims to seek help. For example, she says women with financial insecurities are more at risk to the danger of being abused. She explained that with the elimination of restrictions, women have the freedom to report those crimes. Experts like Nancy and the YWCA encourage women who feel they might be experiencing domestic violence must dial 911 immediately.