Shelters Save Lives: MAWS Strengthens Winnipeg’s Safety Net

Across Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba, the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) is quietly making a life-saving impact.

With a network of 11 family violence shelters, MAWS provides more than just a safe place to stay—it offers refuge, dignity, and a path to healing for women, children, and, occasionally, men fleeing domestic violence. For safety reasons, the shelters' locations remain confidential, but they stand as vital lifelines, offering privacy, protection, and a compassionate support system to those who need it most.

A Civic Responsibility Rooted in Safety and Solidarity

Family violence isn’t just a private issue—it’s a community one. It touches workplaces, schools, health services, and the very fabric of our neighbourhoods. The social "plus-value" of safe, accessible shelters goes far beyond meeting immediate needs. Shelters help create a ripple effect of stability, safety, and empowerment that strengthens entire communities.

Women escaping violence often arrive with only the essentials: identification, legal documents, their children, and sometimes their pets. Recognizing the importance of keeping families whole, some shelters now offer pet-safe programs, ensuring no family member is left behind. In a city like Winnipeg, where a strong sense of family and community runs deep, these initiatives are both thoughtful and essential.

Meeting Urgent Needs

Despite their efforts, a pressing challenge remains: demand often exceeds available space. Winnipeg shelters are frequently at capacity. Still, MAWS and its partners work tirelessly to coordinate support, sometimes referring families to rural shelters or connecting them with alternative resources.

In emergencies, a 24/7 crisis line—1-877-977-0007—serves as the critical access point for those in danger. For women not in immediate crisis but planning to leave, the line connects them with legal support, counselling, transportation, and other resources.

Every survivor's story is different. Some may not need shelter but still require help navigating the legal system, accessing trauma-informed counselling, or finding housing. That’s why MAWS collaborates with organizations like CLEA (Community Legal Education Association) and LEAF to extend their reach and support.

Changing Perceptions, Building Trust

Shelters are often misunderstood, plagued by myths that they are overcrowded, dangerous, or unsanitary. In reality, Winnipeg’s shelters are clean, family-friendly environments staffed 24/7 by trained professionals. Most offer private rooms for families, shared kitchens, and a range of programming to support mental health, job readiness, and parenting.

There’s also growing recognition that domestic violence affects everyone. While most shelters focus on women and children, MAWS ensures that men needing support are connected to appropriate partner services.

Strengthening Manitoba’s Response

MAWS was founded to unite shelters’ voices, shifting away from competing for funding toward collaboration and shared learning. Since its legal registration as a non-profit in 1991, MAWS has advocated for survivors and pushed for systemic change, from workplace training programs to initiatives that reduce leadership isolation within shelters.

From downtown Winnipeg to rural Manitoba, shelters are more than crisis response centres—they are hubs where healing and rebuilding begin. Every survivor they support contributes to a stronger, safer Manitoba.

How You Can Help

• Save the 24/7 crisis line: 1-877-977-0007

• Listen and refer: If someone confides in you about abuse, believe them and help connect them to support.

• Raise awareness: Share information about shelters in your workplace or on social media.

• Donate or partner: Visit www.maws.mb.ca to learn how your business, family, or organization can get involved.

In a time when gender-based violence continues to rise, Winnipeg’s shelters aren’t just responding—they’re evolving. They’re giving survivors a second chance at life, freedom, and peace.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the 24/7 crisis line at 1-877-977-0007, or 911 if in immediate danger.

— Maria Paz, Communications Specialist, and Tsungai Muvingi Van Landeghem, Provincial Coordinator