Women’s Crisis Services: An Indicator of Crime & Violence in Waterloo Region

Less than one quarter of victims of domestic violence report the incident to police. Collecting information from the Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region provides an additional method of tracking domestic violence rates independent of police data. The chart below measures the number of women and children who received support in a Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region shelter, the number of crisis calls received, and the number of women served through outreach by Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

The Statistics

Source Data: Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Annual Report

The Story Behind the Numbers

The crisis calls for support recently dropped. The number of women served through outreach appears to be relatively stable over the past three years. In the past year the number of women and children living in shelters increased dramatically. This increase is believed to be associated with the opening of the new site for the shelter. The opening generated publicity and improved living conditions for women in the shelter which is believed to have made women more comfortable seeking service.

Read the Community Responses

• Violence against women….. No end in sight after 35 years??? by Mary Zilney, Executive Director, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region