Our first Shelter Symposium, Empower, Connect, Inspire: Building the Future through Shelter Collaboration, took place on November 20 and 21, 2024, and brought together over 30 Manitoba family violence shelters. The Symposium addressed shelters’ ongoing challenges regarding fundraising, mental health and substance abuse, culture shock, data collection, and more.
Following this event, participants have started forming working groups to brainstorm solutions for each area and maintain the momentum and connections they built. Although there was much to discuss, these key takeaways from the Symposium can help both local and federal shelters enhance their operations and ensure long-term sustainability:
Overcoming Federal Fundraising Barriers
Many shelters struggle with registration complexities and face barriers based on their geographic location. While shelters in urban areas may have more access to online tools, those in rural or remote communities often struggle with internet connectivity. The Symposium highlighted the creative ways rural shelters are overcoming this barrier.
Another key topic brought to the conversation was understanding the differences between federal and provincial shelters, especially regarding registration as a non-profit. This is crucial for securing the proper support, an effective strategy, and social media work, which can lead to increased donations.
Participants also discussed the delicate balance between soliciting donations without undermining their existing core funding. Statistics and data are critical in this area, as they help demonstrate the shelter’s impact and justify- the need for additional funding. This data-driven approach helps secure new funding streams and reinforces the shelter’s accountability and transparency, potentially strengthening relationships with existing donors.
As shelters continue to navigate these challenges, one clear theme from the Symposium was the need for ongoing advocacy. Shelters must collaborate to raise awareness of their struggles and push for policies and long-term funding models supporting their sustainability. Continued collaboration, strategic outreach, and creative solutions will help shelters thrive and better serve their communities.
Navigating Mental Health in Shelter Services
Mental health challenges are central to shelter services discussions, especially when assessing eligibility, managing client safety, and ensuring effective referrals to specialized care. The Symposium illuminated the nuanced and sometimes complex decisions shelters face when mental health concerns are involved but underscored the importance of compassionate, person-centred care in shelter settings.
While there is no easy solution, key strategies can help shelters provide better care for clients with mental health conditions. These include adopting a case-by-case approach, ensuring proper referrals, creating trauma-informed advisories, and working to build stronger community partnerships.
As the shelter movement evolves, services must remain flexible and responsive to client’s needs, recognizing the importance of mental health in providing holistic support. Through collaboration, continued training, and a commitment to cultural sensitivity, shelters can better serve those who need it most, helping to ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and care.
A Cry for Help: Performance Piece on Labels and Vulnerability
One of the Symposium’s most emotional and powerful moments came from a performance piece called Remember Me/Cry For Help by FNHC, Katina, and Shayna. The performance highlighted the struggles faced by vulnerable women, particularly in how they are often judged based on labels and threats. The scene depicted a woman surrounded by large name tags filled with harsh labels, as “passersby” ignored her cries for help while “police” continued to talk, offering no support. The woman was even robbed, yet no one intervened. This piece poignantly sheds light on many women’s harsh realities when seen as disposable or unworthy of immediate, meaningful support. It emphasized the need for more compassionate and timely assistance for individuals in crisis.
Indigenous Wellness Approaches: A Circle of Healing
The Conversation Circle: Indigenous Wellness Approaches, led by Elder Marilyn Hart-Murdock from FNHC, provided valuable insights into Indigenous healing and wellness methods. Elder Marilyn shared sacred plants, medicines, and a traditional bundle and invited participants to offer tobacco as a prayer. The circle emphasized the importance of understanding one’s traditional name, tribe, and community, encouraging people to reconnect with their cultural roots as part of the healing process. This session reminded everyone that wellness is deeply tied to cultural identity and that respecting traditional practices is vital in creating supportive, holistic care for those in need.
Mapping Shelter-to-Shelter Transfers
Sally and Maria from MAWS led a mapping exercise on shelter-to-shelter transfers, which are crucial for individuals fleeing domestic violence. The exercise revealed the complex factors contributing to transfers, including safety concerns, capacity issues, the need for specialized resources, medical requirements, and even legal or housing factors.
One significant finding was the involvement of various stakeholders in the process, including shelter staff, transportation providers, government agencies, medical services, and Indigenous organizations.
Despite the collaboration, the transfer process faces several challenges. These include logistical issues like coordinating transport and dealing with weather conditions, communication barriers, resource limitations such as insufficient funding and equipment, and safety concerns for clients and staff. There are also systemic issues, such as discrimination and cultural challenges, that mainly affect Indigenous and immigrant women.
The Need for FASD Training and Advocacy for Shelter Improvements
One of the critical discussions during the Symposium was the importance of training shelter staff in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness. FASD can significantly impact an individual’s behaviour, decision-making, and ability to navigate systems, and shelters must understand and support individuals with this condition. However, a specialized bus fleet for shelter transfers was also emphasized, particularly in Manitoba’s northern and southern regions.
The challenges of organizing transfers between shelters due to funding limitations require advocacy and follow-up. Additionally, there is a call for a unified vacancy list, including information on provincial and federal shelter availability, to streamline the process for individuals seeking refuge.
Another conversation focused on the discrimination Indigenous women often face when accessing provincial shelters.
Roaming with Buffalo: A Cultural and Emotional Exploration of Shelter Living
Katina from FNHC led a session titled Roaming with Buffalo: Culture Shock and Transient Experience with Shelter Living, which poignantly explored women’s emotional and cultural obstacles when moving from one shelter to another. The act of constantly shifting—often with children and belongings—can feel dehumanizing, mainly when the person is displaced from their land and culture. Many Indigenous women face added layers of trauma as they transition from remote communities to urban centers, where they may experience culture shock, disconnection, and a sense of being trapped in the city with no way to return home.
For women in shelters, this disconnection is often compounded by feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. The shelter environment may require them to freely ask for things they once could access—such as food, clothing, or basic needs—creating an emotional barrier that further erodes their sense of self-worth. For many Indigenous women, there is also the challenge of navigating a system that may be steeped in cultural misunderstanding or outright racism, leading to further isolation and disempowerment. Shelters that do not offer culturally relevant practices, like the ability to cook meals for one’s family or the feeling of belonging in a space, can make the experience even more traumatic.
Trauma-Informed Approaches to Substance Use and Shelter Policy
Another critical discussion focused on trauma-informed approaches to substance use in shelters, led by Amber from MAWS. One crucial question posed was: How can shelters assess eligibility and discharge decisions when individuals disclose alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drug use? While shelters have policies about not allowing substances on-site, the trauma-informed approach suggests that shelters should instead offer referrals to other services and support individuals in their recovery without further traumatizing them.
There is also a need to address systemic issues in “dry reserves” and the stripping away of agency for Indigenous individuals dealing with alcohol use, especially in contrast to how other populations are treated in similar situations.
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On Day 2, advocates and service providers participated in several powerful sessions and workshops that underscored the need for data collection in shelters, holistic, trauma-informed approaches to supporting survivors and prioritizing wellness for clients and staff.
“Stay or Go” Activity
One of the standout workshops, “Stay or Go,” led by Jennifer, Emily, and April from N-NFCS, offered an immersive, interactive experience that forced participants to make difficult decisions about staying in or leaving an abusive relationship.
The emotional impact was palpable. Participants, visibly affected by the decisions they had to make, engaged in a debriefing session where they could process their emotional journeys. Elder Marilyn Hart-Murdock was available to offer further support, highlighting the importance of providing culturally sensitive debriefs and emotional care for those working in trauma-heavy environments.
Data Collection and Its Role in Improving Shelter Services
Kendra from the University of Manitoba delivered a session on the crucial role of data collection in shelters. She emphasized how collecting demographic and service utilization data can help improve safety and care for survivors. She also highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous worldviews into data collection, adapting tools to reflect holistic wellness rather than just Western metrics. This community-driven approach to data collection ensures that shelters are better equipped to meet the specific needs of diverse populations.
When collected thoughtfully and ethically, data allows shelters to track trends, understand client needs, and improve service delivery and staff training. However, challenges such as reluctance to share information, resource constraints, and the lack of proper staff training persist. Addressing these barriers, especially in rural or remote communities, remains critical to ensuring that shelters are as effective as possible in supporting their clients.
Social Justice and the Impact of Burnout on Frontline Workers
This session, led by Angela Braun from Genesis House, focused on vicarious trauma and burnout, which are common challenges for frontline shelter workers. Vikki Reynolds’ workbook was referenced to guide participants in reflecting on the core of their work and how they can avoid burnout.
Reynolds emphasized the importance of building supportive, “enmeshed” client relationships while ensuring staff support. A “Zone of Fabulousness,” where collective care and mutual support among colleagues are prioritized, emerged as a key concept. By fostering connections between staff, removing silos, and offering accountability, shelters can resist burnout and improve service delivery.
Continuing Angela Braun’s previous session, Tsue from MAWS facilitated a conversation about caring for the staff’s emotional and physical well-being. Creating spaces for staff to relax, recharge, and bond with colleagues is vital to maintaining their energy and engagement in the work.
Simple but effective practices, such as cooking a meal with clients, offering weekly wellness checks, or organizing a retreat with yoga or a silent walk, can go a long way toward reducing burnout and creating a supportive and sustainable work environment.
Moving Forward: Building More Resilient & Supportive Systems
As the Symposium concluded, it was clear that much work remains to be done to improve shelter services, from increasing staff training to enhancing communication and resource sharing between shelters.
The need for advocacy—whether for better funding, more transportation options, or improved cultural competency—was underscored throughout the discussions. As shelters evolve, the call for better coordination, more funding, and a deeper understanding of trauma will help ensure that individuals find safety and a sense of dignity, respect, and belonging in the shelter system. By embracing these changes, we can create a system that genuinely supports healing, recovery, and the empowerment of all those in need.
