Transition Home Survey

Alberta fact sheet

The 2001/02 Transition Home Survey is conducted on a biennial basis as part of the federal government's Family Violence Initiative. The questionnaire was sent to 524 shelters in Canada known to be providing residential services for women victims of abuse and their children. Responses were received from 482 shelters (92%).

The questionnaire was sent to 40 facilities in Alberta and responses were received from 90% of the shelters.

• There were 10,642 admissions of women and dependent children reported from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002.¹

A Profile of residents, April 15, 2002

• In a snapshot taken on April 15, 2002, there were 618 residents in shelters in Alberta: 52% were women and 48% were dependent children.

• 59% (189) of women residing in shelters on April 15, 2002, were victims of abuse and the remainder were admitted for reasons other than abuse, such as housing problems. Of those admitted for abuse, 94% were fleeing psychological abuse, 77% physical abuse, and 59% financial abuse.

• 61% of women with parental responsibilities who were admitted for abuse indicated that they were also protecting their children from witnessing abuse of their mother, 64% from psychological abuse, 35% from threats, 40% from physical abuse, and 17% from neglect.

• 67% of women escaping abusive situations were admitted with their children; 69% (183) of these children were under 10 years of age.

• 56% of abused women indicated that their spouse or partner was the abuser, 15% of women were abused by a former spouse or partner, and 29% by others (e.g., current or ex-boyfriend, relative, friend, acquaintance, or the relationship was unknown).

• 34% of abused women had reported police intervention for the most recent violent incident to police and, in 47% of these reported cases, charges were laid against the abuser.

A profile of shelters, 2001-2002

• The majority of shelters offered the following in-house services to women residents: advocacy (97%), housing referral (94%), individual short-term counselling (94%), and medical services (67%).

• Facilities also provided in-house services to women who are non-residents in need of assistance. These services included crisis telephone line (72%), individual short-term counselling (78%), and specialized services for older women 55 plus (19%). In-house services available to women ex-residents included individual short-term counselling (81%), advocacy (75%), and crisis telephone line (67%).

• In-house services offered to resident children included outdoor recreational spaces (92%), indoor recreational spaces (86%), and individual counselling (64%).

• 86% of shelters reported having at least one building entrance that was wheelchair accessible, 64% reported having bedrooms that were wheelchair accessible and 72% reported having bathrooms that were wheelchair accessible. 22% offer services to people who are blind or visually impaired and 44% offer services to people who are deaf or hearing impaired.

• Facilities reported providing an average of 54 outreach³ hours per week.

For further information, please contact the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics at (613) 951-9023, toll-free at 1 800 387-2231 or e-mail: ccjsccsj@statcan.gc.ca.