What Happens When You Call
A trained staff member answers. They will listen without judgement.
They will ask a few simple questions to understand your situation. You do not have to share anything you are not comfortable sharing.
If you would like shelter, they will arrange everything by phone. You will never be asked to come directly to the building on your own. We make safe arrangements with you first.
If you are not ready for shelter, that is fine. We can talk through your options. We can help you make a plan. We can connect you with other support in the community.
There is no wrong reason to call.
What to Expect When You Arrive
When you arrive, a staff member will meet you. They will walk you through the space and answer your questions.
You will not be rushed. We will go at your pace.
During your intake, we will:
- Ask about your immediate needs (food, clothing, medical care, medications)
- Talk with you about your safety and support options
- Explain how our services work and what you can expect during your stay
- Connect you with referrals to other agencies if you need them
Everything you share with us stays confidential, with two exceptions: if we have reason to believe a child is being harmed, we are required by law to report. If there is an immediate risk to your life or someone else's, we may need to take action. We will always tell you what we are doing and why.
What to Bring (or Not)
Bring whatever you can carry. If you arrive with nothing, that is fine. We have what you need.
If you have time and it is safe to do so, you may want to bring:
- Identification (yours and your children's)
- Medications
- Important documents (health cards, custody papers, immigration documents)
- A change of clothing for you and your children
- Any comfort items for your children (a toy, a blanket)
Do not put yourself in danger to gather documents. We can help you replace them.
Your Privacy
We take your privacy seriously. Your name, your situation, and the fact that you contacted us are all kept confidential.
We do not share your information with anyone, including police, family members, or your partner, without your written permission. The only exceptions are mandatory child-protection reporting and situations of immediate life-threatening danger.
We do not publish our physical address. Arrangements to access our services are made by phone only.
If you are worried that your internet use is being monitored, please call us instead of filling out any online form. Our crisis line is 780-827-1791, answered 24 hours.
Form submissions are automatically deleted after 30 days.
Safety Planning
A safety plan is a personal plan you make for yourself and your children. It helps you think through what you would do in different situations.
You do not have to leave home to make a safety plan. Plans can include what to do if things get worse at home, how to keep yourself safer day to day, who to call for help, and what to take if you do decide to go.
Our staff can help you create a plan over the phone. You can also find our full safety planning guide on the Resources page.
See Resources and Safety PlanningIf You Are Referring Someone
If you are an RCMP officer, social worker, nurse, doctor, school counsellor, or community member calling on behalf of someone, we are glad to help.
You can call our crisis line at 780-827-1791 on her behalf. Tell us what you know. We will take it from there.
What to share when you call:
- The person's first name (if you have it)
- A brief description of the situation
- Any immediate safety concerns
- Whether she knows you are calling
We understand that referrals are sensitive. We will handle the information with care.
Confidentiality for Referrals
Calling on someone's behalf does not commit her to anything. We will reach out to her directly. She decides what happens next.
If you need written information about our services to keep on hand, contact us at 780-827-3776 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 4pm) and we can send you our referral information sheet.
Other Support Options
If our shelter is full or if another type of support is a better fit, we will help you find it.
Other resources in Alberta:
- Alberta Family Violence Info Line: 310-1818 (24 hours, free, multilingual)
- ACWS shelter directory: acws.ca
- Shelter Safe, national shelter finder: sheltersafe.ca
We will never leave you without a next step.