Piwapan preparing for potential influx of clients fleeing domestic violence

Piwapan’s Women Centre in La Ronge is preparing for a potential influx of clients fleeing domestic violence due to the pandemic.

“We’re having meetings with our funders on a weekly basis because that has been a trend in other countries that … domestic violence rates has jumped so high due to isolation,” Executive Director Karen Sanderson said. “We are preparing for that to occur.”

At this time, the shelter is fully operational even though the centre’s sub-office along La Ronge Ave. has been shutdown for some time. The outreach workers who were based out of the office are now working home and reaching clients via texts or phone calls, but Sanderson expects the space to open again for staff next week.

When restrictions due to COVID-19 began to be introduced, there were a number of steps taken to help prevent the spread of the virus. For instance, any particularly vulnerable clients who were staying at the main shelter were found other accommodations as to not risk their health. Those who are currently being taken in also go through an intake process, which determines if they should have access to self-isolation or are healthy enough to live in the communal style at the shelter.