A space for men and children escaping domestic violence opening in Calgary Tuesday is the first in western Canada, according to the Canadian Centre for Men and Families (CCMF).
The non-descript, interim housing facility is in the southwest community of Parkhill. The 11-unit building is currently using four units with plans to expand.
“In Alberta, as in most of Canada, fathers and children face barriers to accessing support services during times of crisis,” said Bill Fitzsimmons, CCMF Alberta executive director.
“Fathers who suffer violence in the home often have no safe place where they can escape to with their children.”
The facility has the capacity to house around 35 people, a combination of men and their children, with a minimum of a 31-day stay.
In addition to housing and a safe environment, the CCMF offers clients entering the facility the resources they need to rebuild their lives, including therapy, legal support, parenting programs and trauma recovery peer …