Impact Report 2026

Transforming Lives Beyond Violence: Why Ongoing Support Matters More Than Ever

Every year, we meet people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Leaving violence is not the end of the journey. For many survivors, it is only the beginning.

Across Canada, gender-based violence continues to impact women and gender-diverse individuals at alarming rates. But even after someone leaves an abusive situation, the barriers they face—housing, immigration status, financial instability, and the lasting impacts of trauma—can make it incredibly difficult to move forward.

At Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, our Crisis Response Program exists to meet people in that reality.

When someone connects with us, they are paired with a dedicated counsellor who supports them over time—not just in crisis, but throughout their journey toward stability. This ongoing, personalized support helps survivors navigate complex systems, access essential services, and begin rebuilding their lives with confidence.

Over the past year, this program has supported hundreds of individuals and families through more than 1,600 counselling sessions and over 1,300 advocacy calls and referrals. Behind every number is a person who is safer today because they were not alone.

No two journeys are the same. Some survivors are navigating immigration systems while caring for their children. Others are managing the long-term impacts of trauma, including mental health challenges that make stability harder to achieve. What they all need is consistent, compassionate support.

And that is exactly what this program provides.

This work goes beyond what traditional funding covers. It requires time, trust, and a commitment to walking alongside survivors for as long as it takes.

Because of this support, people don’t have to go back.

Be Part of the Support That Changes Lives

When you give to Ernestine’s, you are helping ensure that survivors have someone to call, someone to guide them, and someone to stand beside them as they rebuild.

Make a donation today and help someone build a life free from violence.

Read our full 2026 Impact Report to learn more about the Crisis Response Program and the lives you’re helping.