Nowhere to turn: Shelters can’t keep up with demand to help those fleeing domestic violence

In October, staff at a women’s shelter in Hamilton had to turn away 67 women seeking refuge. The next month, they turned away 51.

With only 40 funded beds, Martha House, for women and children fleeing violence, would need to quadruple its capacity to accommodate all of this demand. The shelter is simply too full – and has been for as long as staff can remember.