Opened in 1981, YWCA Harbour House is a 24 bed crisis unit for women and children who are involved in abusive intimate partner relationships. Abuse may be pnysical or emotional violence or sexual assault.

Families are provided accommodations for a maximum of 21 days, with staff available for counselling and support 24 hours-a-day. Education sessions on the impact of family violence on children, cycle and dynamics of violence, and safety planning are available for all clients.

Harbour House Shelter also operates a 24 hour-crisis-line 
(local calls 320-1881 or toll free 1-866-296-0447) 
which receives approximately 15,000 information calls each year and 2000 crisis calls. As well, support is given to over 200 women on a drop -in basis each year. Average numbers that reside in the shelter in any given year are 700 women and children. There are no fees for this program.

Harbour House School     In partnership with the Lethbridge School       District #51, Harbour House School meets the educational needs of children who reside in the shelter. The school has also been instrumental in developing curriculum for grades 2, 5 and 8 on  the issues of family violence.	Click on any of these links for    more information:        Safety plan      Safety audit
Emergency Housing     Through a partnership with Lethbridge Housing Authority, we are able to provide 6 housing allocations for women in crisis.	Guide to Parenting and Support      (Custody and Access in Alberta)     A Woman's Guide to Housing
Counselling     Community members are able to access         support and education based peer counselling      services through YWCA Harbour House     Women's Emergency Shelter and Outreach     Services. All staff working in this program has      a degree or diploma in the Human Services      field.  Assistance can be obtained by calling      329-0088 or in person and is confidential.       Crisis support is available for domestic and       sexual violence situations.

♦  The YWCA Harbour House Women's  Emergency Shelter can be reached 24 hours 
    a day at (403) 329-0088 or 1-866-296-0447.  
♦  Outreach Services can be reached at 329-0088, Mon. through Fri., 
     between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Harbour House was the recipient of the 2006 Better Business Bureau Award for Ethics. This is a YWCA signature program.


   

World Conference for Women’s Shelters

Dear friends of ACWS,

The first World Conference of Women’s Shelters, was held on September 8 – 11, 2008. Click on the link to see the reports, articles and photos from the very successful event.
800 shelter workers from around the globe attended this conference!  





http://www.womensshelter.ca/