Emergency Crisis Line

Crisis Intervention Workers are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week to provide support to women (with or without children) requesting accommodation or who may be in crisis. They will assist with personal  safety planning, and will provide advocacy and referrals to other community agencies as needed.

Emergency Shelter & Accomodation

 CWSS emergency accommodations provide safe shelter for single women and women with children who are fleeing domestic violence, or who are homeless due to crisis situations. Annually, CWSS shelter services help approximately 400 women and children from Camrose and surrounding areas. Crisis Intervention Workers work 24 hours a day, seven days per week to assist clients with meeting safety needs, setting goals for while in shelter, accessing community resources, and providing supportive listening.

CWSS also provides basic needs, including all meals. Life Skills groups and ongoing information about family violence and its effects on family members, as well as in-house daycare services, Family Support, and standard school program are also provided services.

For more information about emergency accommodations contact our Program Coordinator at 780-679-4975 ext. 6.

Please visit our safety planning section to prepare and protect yourself as you plan to leave.

School Program

While in shelter, children from grades one to 12 are provided with an on-site classroom and a certified teacher through the Battle River School Division that follows Alberta Education (Program of Studies Curriculum). The teacher fosters an environment where students can meet their individual educational needs, developing positive relationships, and building resilience while feeling safe and trauma-free! Time is spent building relationships before considering the academic progression. Every student’s education path is determined on an individual basis to ensure success for every student.

Consistent, caring relationships are one of the biggest factors in helping children heal from trauma. A daily routine in the classroom can be calming, so structure and predictability are provided whenever possible.

Our teacher has training and experience with Indigenous students, as well as different levels of developmental needs. Coming to the shelter can be a traumatic event for students and the school strives to meet the needs of each student by providing a flexible learning environment where learning and healing go hand and hand. When students are ready to transition into a new school environment, our teacher supports families with the move to ensure the process is smooth.

For more information about our school and shelter learning environment, call 780-679-4975 ext. 5, or Battle River School Division at 1-780-672-6131.

Family Support Program

The Family Support program provides groups and one-to-one time, education, information and support around parenting and the effects of family violence on children. They role model positive interactions for the mother-child relationship. The Family Support program operates a licensed daycare and liaises with community agencies to meet the specific needs of each child, mother or family unit. Various partnerships are maintained within the community to ensure supports for each family as they transition back to the community. During their stay, in-house childcare is provided for appointments, in-house groups and self-care needs. Groups and activities are provided for children throughout their stay at the shelter, including preschool learning, crafts and literacy activities, yoga, and field trips.

For more information, contact our Family Support Coordinator at 780-679-4975 ext. 5.

Outreach Program

CWSS Outreach Program is a free program built to support all individuals whose lives are touched by family and domestic violence. You don’t need to use the shelter services to access Outreach.

As a client you may need:

• Supportive listening
• Information on domestic violence
• Safety planning
• Support in talking to your kids
• Goal planning
• access to basic needs,
• Advocacy and referrals, or
• Someone to talk to who understands.

Children who witness or experience abuse are also in need of support. Our Outreach Child and Youth Care Counselor works with parents and kids by:

• offering age-appropriate information,
• discussing the effects abuse has on child development,
• providing supportive listening, and
• connecting with kids to provide a safe place to reach out.

While the ultimate goal of the program is independent living, the Outreach team recognizes that building a safe and satisfying life can take time. We are there for encouragement, supportive listening and check-ins until you are ready to leave the program or transition out of our catchment area.

Community Connections

The Camrose Women’s Shelter is committed to preventing domestic violence. We understand that this type of large-scale aim requires everyone’s attention and engagement. Through our Outreach program, we provide presentations, conduct research, and support other agencies in our community.

As a community member or agency you may need:

• Information on domestic and family violence,
• Direction in how to support an individual or family experiencing violence,
• Safety planning ideas,
• Presentations and conference booths, or
• participation in interagency meetings and projects.

If you would like to access any of these services, please contact the Outreach Coordinator at 780-781-6270 (phone or text) or at orc@camrosewomenshelter.org

Second Stage Shelter

We are currently working on the creation of our Second Stage Shelter.

Learn more about existing Second Stage Shelters at www.acws.ca  and check back here for ongoing updates.

In Alberta, second stage shelters were developed in the mid-1970s to provide women and children with safe and independent living accommodation upon leaving an emergency shelter.  They are a longer-term housing option that offers women high level security features as well as emotional and practical support services.

 Second stage shelters are usually apartment style buildings where women have their own, one, two or three-bedroom unit. The apartments are furnished and fully equipped with household items. The women can stay for approximately 12 to 18 months, and pay a monthly rent at a subsidized low income rate. These facilities usually have high security features to ensure the safety of residents.

 Second stage shelters commonly have space for support services and programming including a counselling room, a playroom or children’s center, a snoezelen room, group rooms for support groups, life skills workshops, and group activities, and practical supports.

 Initial steps that the shelter has taken towards this project is a Feasibility Study completed in 2018,   the purchase of a second property to develop the project and seed funding through CMHC for initial architectural and site assessment costs.

Services for Men

Men fleeing domestic violence with or without children who contact the shelter are offered resources or information by phone, or the Outreach program, if appropriate. 

Please see a list of resources for men below.

Services for Seniors