With all of Cochrane’s great amenities and programs, there is one important missing piece – a crisis shelter.
“It would be nice to have a shelter – there is definitely a need,” said Susan Flowers, manager of Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). “Cochrane is growing and so are our problems and so are our needs. And there is certainly as much family violence here as in any community.”
In the last 10 years, over 103,343 women and 108,955 children have been turned away from women’s shelters across Alberta, according to a fact sheet from Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS).
While the need for a shelter is there, funding for a space and 24-hour staff is a different story.
“It is really expensive to have in a small community – the need has shown up but the numbers are not high enough so it is something we have not considered affordable yet,” Flowers explained. “The idea has been tossed around at different times but with the economic times, I am not feeling too hopeful it will be happening soon.”
The “economic times” are also affecting domestic violence trends in Alberta, according to recent reports. Alberta was listed as one of the top three provinces to have the highest rates of intimate partner violence among the provinces in 2013, according to Statistics Canada ‘Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile’ report. The report stated Alberta had 10,045 women and 2,887 men reporting intimate-partner violence. This province also had 1,970 family violence police reports with children and youth, and over 300 police-reported family violence incidents to senior victims.
FCSS will be administering a needs assessment later this year and Flowers said she is hopeful to get Cochranites’ opinions on the issue.
“If it comes out (in the needs assessment) that there is a strong need then we will start working on it,” Flowers stated.
While there are no emergency/crisis shelters located directly in Cochrane, there are shelters located in Morley, Calgary and Strathmore.
“I think the lack of shelters in Cochrane results from our proximity to Calgary,” explained town Coun. Dr. Ross Watson. “But a lot of those shelters have been full or at over-capacity, so what does Cochrane do when there is no place to send these women?”
Watson has worked with the local Victim Services Unit and was also on the FCSS board, and said that has helped open his eyes to what goes on behind closed doors in the community.
“You drive through Cochrane and it doesn’t look like a town that would have many problems but we have problems and I think we are weak in that (certain) area,” Watson stated. “We are building houses, people want to move here and we are not without our problems. We are building swimming pools and bridges and things look pretty good but we can never neglect building our social supports.”
The Town of Cochrane does offer a variety of preventative programs and support (see sidebar), including a Healthy Relationship program through FCSS. Flowers said anyone experiencing problems is encouraged to seek support before it might get to a point of crisis.
“Cochrane has wonderful services, FCSS is outstanding, the Cochrane Activettes with their food bank are truly commendable, Home Treasures raises monies and donates money and helps people in difficult situations set up home, so we are just missing that one little piece. The crisis piece,” Watson said. “A women’s shelter might be a stretch for Cochrane but I think we at least need something for when a person is in crisis.”
Currently the only long-term crisis program running is the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area, Safe Couch program and Youth Emergency Support Services (YESS) for youth. With an estimated 25 to 30 homeless youth in Cochrane at any given time, the programs helped 25 homeless youth or at risk of becoming homeless youth in 2015.
The Safe Couch program also offers assistance to families with issues that are preventing the adults from having successful relationships and/or reuniting with their child.
“It is ironic that Cochrane and every community has this figured out for pets but we haven’t got it figured out for people,” Watson said. “But I don’t want to be too critical – because that is an easy solution (for animals), finding something temporary for people is much harder.”
Although Calgary is close enough, staying in a crisis/emergency shelter in the city can pose a problem for families with children and youth attending schools in Cochrane.
“I think through the vehicle we have, we need to pressure the government and get some money to establish, in a town of Cochrane’s size, a place for someone temporarily in crisis – that is why I’m suggesting a temporary situation where someone is referred to and held until a situation can be changed,” Watson explained. “I think we can take the first step and determine the right path – and not just for women but for all people in crisis situations.”
The Resource Centre is in the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) building located at 209 2 Ave W. For more information on the program contact 403-851-2250.
For more information visit the center at 111 5th Ave. W or call 403-932-4747 to get in touch with one of the organizers
Cochrane’s Domestic Violence Treatment Group. For information on the program contact 403-851-2259.
The office is located at 359 1 St. E, or for more information call 403-851-8055 or visit cochranevictimservices.com
The office is located at 60 Grande Boulevard, or you can call 403-851-6100.
