By Jessie Weisner

Beginning of year busy for women’s shelter

Jan 9, 2019 | 3:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The first couple of months of the year seem like a new beginning for most people, but for others, it’s a trip back to a difficult reality.

Many of them head to the women’s shelter for some help.

“We tend to see it sort of peak right before Christmas,” says Natasha Carvalho, executive director of the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society. “Then it slows down again over the Christmas break and this is when we sort of see the numbers rising again.”

Carvalho says many people come back to reality when January arrives.

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“I think that over Christmas time people go home and try to make it work the best they can for the sake of the kids or the sake of the family and just try to have some normalcy in their life,” says Carvalho. “The reality of January hits and everything starts coming again and bills and everything else and all the stresses that effect all of us, but I think when you’re already in a family situation that’s a bit tenuous it just exacerbates it even more.”

At the moment, both shelters in Medicine Hat are nearly full. However, Carvalho says they’ll always welcome people in difficult situations.

“I’m glad people feel like ‘I can go somewhere, I don’t have to stay in an unsafe situation, there’s somewhere to go’,” says Carvalho. “They can call us, they can drop by, they don’t have to come into the shelter but at least come and talk to somebody.”

In addition, if you see someone in a difficult situation, reach out to help.

“If you see someone struggling, support them, give them our number, tell them where to call, go on our website, we have lots of resources,” says Carvalho. “So just make sure you’re a good neighbour and a good friend and you can help people out as well.”