Helping survivors of abuse move safely

East Winnipeg

West Winnipeg

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This article was published 11/12/2024 (311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Volunteers with a non-profit organization that arrived in Winnipeg earlier this year are mobilizing to help move survivors of abuse to safety.

Shelter Movers is dedicated to providing free moving and storage services to individuals and families escaping abusive situations.

The local chapter arrived here on the heels of other chapters being launched across the nation. The volunteer-driven not-for-profit works with local businesses and community agencies to ensure that those in need have a dignified way of retaining their belongings when they leave an abusive situation. Since 2016, Shelter Movers has completed more than 7,500 moves for survivors in Canada, organizers said.

“We mostly help women and their children that have been abused,” said Justine Stewart, Shelter Movers’ senior marketing and communications specialist, noting that Shelter Movers Winnipeg will help survivors within 100 kilometres of the city centre in any direction.

Allison Kirkland, Winnipeg chapter director, said individuals are referred to the organization, and once a referral is made, volunteers strive to help as many people as possible.

“Primarily, we work with shelters, and community organizations who see people in these situations,” Kirkland said. “They provide referrals for people who need the support we provide. We don’t generally turn people away, and we take all the referrals that come in.”

Once things are in place, moving teams take over and move the clients from their home or where they’re staying to another site, in addition to providing storage services for their belongings.

Kirkland said each situation has a unique set of circumstances, and moves are given different categories of risk — low, medium or high. In extreme situations, when someone’s partner is more likely to have a criminal history of domestic violence, police or security companies will become involved.

Stewart said the organization’s expansion into Winnipeg also provides the “opportunity to grow and deepen relationships with Indigenous communities.”

“We have practical solutions that have worked for many survivors, and we look forward to supporting existing organizations in the city,” she said.

Kirkland added that, statistically, Manitoba has the second-highest reported rate of domestic violence in the country, after Saskatchewan.

“It really is about eliminating barriers for women when they are thinking about leaving, and when they are restricted by financial hurdles,” she said.

The need for volunteers for Shelter Movers Winnipeg continues, and organizers note men who’d like to help and show their support are encouraged to reach out.

“A lot of men are aware of the problem and want to be part of a solution, and they don’t necessarily know how they can play a part,” Kirkland said. Visit www.sheltermovers.com/winnipeg for more information.