A charitable organization that helps people move and store their belongings when leaving abusive homes.
Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered charitable organization providing moving and storage services at no cost to individuals and families fleeing abuse. They collaborate with local businesses and community agencies to support people, primarily women and children, as they transition to a life free of violence.
Elsa Perry, Calgary Chapter Director with Shelter Movers joins me on this episode to tell us more about this organization, how they help and how you can support their very important work in our communities.
For more information you can find Shelter Movers online @ sheltermovers.com
Refer a client / survivor: sheltermovers.com/request-a-move
Volunteer: sheltermovers.com/volunteer
Donate: sheltermovers.com/donate
Email: volunteer.calgary@sheltermovers.ca
Facebook: Shelter Movers
Instagram: sheltermovers
LinkedIn: Shelter Movers
Watch the video of this interview on our YouTube channel.
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Elsa Perry 0:00
Hi, this is Elsa Perry and you're listening to the divorce magazine Canada podcast.
Deena Kordt 0:08
Hey, are you or someone you care about considering dealing with, or been through a divorce or separation? Well, you're in the right place. You don't have to do this alone. There are people who care and want to help. Hi, I'm Deena court, and author, blogger, publisher, and empowerment coach. Thanks for joining me on the divorce magazine Canada podcast. You are going to hear from our team of experts and professionals how to navigate this difficult transition in your life easier, more efficiently, and with better outcomes. Did you know we host online divorce resource groups that are free to attend, and everyone is welcome? Check out the links in our show notes. And be sure and join us. We love bringing experts to you. Please refer to our terms of service available on our website, divorce magazine canada.com. And stay tuned at the end for the legal language. How our potential new clients finding you are they just doing a random Google search and hoping for the best. Let's get you in divorce magazine Canada, there are multiple ways that we can get you in front of a new audience, you might not think that your business applies directly to divorce or separation. However, the statistics tell us that 50% of people are experiencing divorce or separation. And they're looking for your services while dealing with this difficult transition. So let's showcase you on the podcast as a sponsor and advertiser in the magazine. And in our events, I would love to feature you and there's an early bird offer right now, till the end of July with last year's pricing, contact me and find out how we can get you in front of some new eyes. Ready? Here we go. In this special series, the hope in Health Series, it's my mission to share with you people and organizations who are there to support individuals, women, men, families who are experiencing unsafe situations, domestic conflict, domestic abuse, violence, and also share with you people who have experienced it and have a story to tell that will help you feel less alone. I want to create this awareness so that whether you're experiencing or not, you will know you aren't alone, you will know how to help people that you'd like to support or to find the help that you need. And what I really love about the people that I've gathered for this series is that they have such a heart of caring. And today you're going to meet Elsa Perry, she is with a phenomenal charitable organization that helps women and individuals and families move their possessions from a place of of abuse or an unsafe situation and not only move they coordinate all of that the assist with that, but they also offer storage options all at no cost to the people who need it. Please listen here. They're in need of volunteers. They're new in Calgary and Edmonton. And they do need your help. So if there's some way that you can help or you're needing their help, please listen up. Let's meet Elsa now. Hey, Elsa, thank you for joining me today. I am super stoked to introduce you to the audience that's out there and let them know about you and what you do your why and how they can support this really important work. So welcome, Elsa to the show. Oh, thank you. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you are doing with shelter movers. Of course.
Speaker 1 4:14
I'm so happy to be here. Thank you so much for having me. My name is Elsa Perry. I'm the chapter director of shelter movers Calgary originally not too far from Calgary myself. I grew up in our south of here and the cannon ask is near Longview. Love this area. It's been my home for my entire life. I've moved across Canada and I have to say this area is still my most favorite. And why I'm here is to talk about shelter movers. So we're a national volunteer powered charitable organization where we focus on providing moving and storage services at no cost to individuals, primarily women and children though who are fleeing abuse and we do so by collaborating with local businesses. Can we Unity agencies to support people as they transition to that life free of violence. Shelter movers exists now in nine cities across Canada. As an organization, we've completed almost 6000 moves to date. And there's a huge demand for our services. And we're happy to say that we're answering that call.
Speaker 2 5:19
Okay, this, I hope all the listeners are as blown away by this as I was when I first heard about you. Now, shelter Movers has been around for a while, but they're new to Alberta. And there are chapters in Calgary and Edmonton right now, they're ready to move ahead, as soon as they have enough volunteers in place. So this is a huge appeal for those who want to support and help primarily women, but individuals who are escaping abusive situations where they aren't safe. And what's so beautiful about this is it is a way for them to maintain some of their dignity and not walk away completely empty with nothing of the none of their possessions, it may even be something that's keeping them where they are, they can't even envision a lifetime for some people of many, many years or a shorter period of time and, and walking away without their possessions, or knowing they're going to go into a temporary home, but obviously hoping to go into something more permanent at some point. And they'd be starting all over. And really, there's a lot of sentimental value attached as well to our belongings. So it's just absolutely incredible. And the service, if you didn't catch that, in the beginning, is not only to coordinate and assist the move of these possessions, but also storage at no cost to the people needing it. And there's a free, yet completely free. And it's supported by organizations and partnerships. There is also no limit to how many moves a person may need to make. So that is phenomenal. You may need some of your items, if you're going into say a temporary living arrangements. And then what about the rest of it? And then now what if I need to move again? How am I going to move maybe those couches and some dressers in the you know, the kids beds or whatever it might be? Again, is that too much to ask. And, and it's not. That is what is so impressive with this service.
Speaker 1 7:33
It is and it's a unique service across Canada, we're really one of a kind where we we know we know how hard it is to do a move how logistically complicated, expensive, emotionally complicated as well, to do an entire move with you, yourself, your family, pets, anything else that you might have. And you know, gender, gender based violence is really an important topic to talk about. Because it really is in every community in Canada at this point. It's really an unfortunate reality. But it is. The home is the most dangerous place for women and children right now in the City of Calgary police are receiving almost 30,000 calls a year about domestic violence and domestic conflict. So we really need to start focusing on this at a community level because it's so unfortunate that I mean, you might know someone in your community who's gone through something like this. And if you don't someone else does, it's not that far removed anymore, especially in Alberta.
Speaker 2 8:36
Well, then I think what's often miss understood or miscalculated is the people around you that are experiencing it. And the stats I've heard is one in three. So the likelihood that you know at least one person, whether you're aware of what the circumstances are that they're in or not, doesn't mean you don't know somebody. So sometimes it's easier and more comfortable to ignore little signs and Hansen and things and, and when people are in those situations, there can be so much shame and embarrassment and guilt that, that they're in that they don't know how to get out. They they feel very self conscious about being in that situation. And, and so it may be very, very tentative, they're, you know, and kind of hesitant when they do reach out and you have to read a little bit, you know, between the lines that it would be open to hearing it. And I think that's what's so so, so important because your service is referral based. Can you explain that a bit more to us?
Speaker 1 9:42
No, I think you've really discussed a lot of problems here. Shelter movers, we are anti oppressive, we are an anti racist framework and we focus on not re traumatizing. So that's part of our focus on our model about how we give these services to people who request them. So are we referral system is an intake process. And we work with shelters primarily but also other community organizations. Because Calgary is a relatively new chapter, we're partnering partnering with two referral agencies to start with. And that's Rowan house in High River, Alberta. And then the other one is fear is not love within Calgary. And so we really make sure that people are supported through this process, because as you've said, it's extremely complicated. It's very demanding, emotionally demanding, as well as financially restrictive. So we work with the shelter's to make sure that we really can remove a tangible barrier from this process to make sure that people don't have to worry about those two huge things when they're thinking about maybe leaving an abusive situation. And that's also why we don't restrict number of moves. It's always incredibly complicated. and referral agencies such as Rowan house and fears not love have these programs to also offer this additional support that people and their family need in order to do this move.
Unknown Speaker 11:05
Now, Edmonton has a new chapter as well, correct? Yes, they
Speaker 1 11:08
do. Calgary and Edmonton are opening at the same time.
Speaker 2 11:11
Oh, that's exciting. And often people leave a community especially if there's been some abuse and, you know, they they really need to change their location to feel safer. Now, can you tell us more about the Edmonton chapter? Yes, the
Speaker 1 11:29
Edmonton chapter. We're just in the process of doing our foundations and community setup. So they're very much in the same place. Calgary is looking for volunteer capacity to start moving people. You're right, essentially, we do a really good job. When we set up our volunteers. We have amazing volunteers. They really are what makes shelter movers what it is, and they really enable us to do moves across the city. So for both Calgary and Edmonton, the areas that we serve are not just within the cities, because of course, you're right, people might need to leave communities, they might need to go to a different city. So by standard we serve anyone an hour and an hour and a half outside of the city center. So for Calgary, that certainly includes High River up to Nanton, Turner Valley, BlackDiamond, Longview, Cochran, Vulcan, all these nearby communities also fall within our not jurisdiction, but within our our mandate area. And Edmonton is the theme. So all those neighboring communities, Sherwood Park, they all are able to access our services once we're up and running.
Speaker 2 12:36
That's amazing. Now, volunteers, volunteers are who we really want to hear and understand that this is an area that you can step in and support. And that is what is waiting right now. So that you can offer this service in Alberta as well. And volunteers don't just like the first thing that comes to mind is I don't know if I could carry a couch, right? Like people are thinking that you're all about, it's all about physically moving. And of course, there's that component. But there are so many other areas that you mentioned to me about, you know, the coordination the the admin portions of it, there's a lot of ways that people can help even if they're remote, and they aren't, they aren't nearby.
Speaker 1 13:28
Yes. And you know, this is what I really love about the shelter movers model is volunteers really are what makes the world go round for us. We are so grateful for them. And we really are flexible, and we meet volunteers were there because it's incredibly complicated to be a person moving through the world these days. And so the worlds evolved. So shelter movers. So you're right, we have these in person, if you want to move a box or a couch, we're so happy to have you if you want to drive a truck, we'll provide you with that training so you can get in that truck and go. But if you are maybe a little bit outside of Calgary and you're not sure about your availability, for sure, we could use you as a mover. But if you don't want to be a mover and perhaps you want to be communications person and it helper, a grant writer, an admin person, we're so happy to take you and we will provide that training so that you feel ready and comfortable in your role to help out. I think everyone is really looking for these opportunities to give back and a lot of barriers can be Well, where do I start? I want it to be in my community. I want to see that tangible difference. And I think shelter movers really gives that opportunity because you are providing that change. You are helping with every box that you pick up and you put in a truck, you know that you are a part of that chain where you are helping to make a difference and I think that that's just absolutely fantastic. And hopefully that we'll get some more volunteers so we can start moving through As soon as possible and fostering that volunteer community that we really, really love.
Speaker 2 15:06
Now in the shownotes, we will share the ways that you can connect with shelter movers to volunteer, I understand they would probably be able to donate as well, if they aren't able to volunteer of their time are their skills.
Speaker 1 15:20
Of course, we love volunteers, but also recognize that not everyone can volunteer. So it costs shelter movers about $250 To move a family, which includes every component of the move storage, moving equipment, vehicle rental, even the volunteer training that I was discussing. community donations and financial support really allow us to provide this service, no charge to the client. If that's something that interests you, we do have our website shelter movers.com. You can also send an email to volunteer dot Calgary at shelter movers.com And we are so happy to meet you where you are, so that we can start giving back to our communities.
Unknown Speaker 16:00
And I'm assuming that the Edmonton is going to be volunteer dot Edmonton,
Speaker 1 16:04
of course, and our landing page. Yep, shelter movers.com You can either toggle Calgary and Edmonton and of course Edmonton is also in need of the same volunteers. So if you're not in the Calgary area, don't worry, Edmonton is right there and ready to have you too.
Speaker 2 16:20
And like we said, you can help with some it and some admin, maybe coordinating intakes that type of thing could be done from anywhere, so forth. So that is really helpful. Now, I didn't ask you this ahead of time. But is there any type of an in kind donation? That would be a great
Speaker 1 16:38
question. Yes. So we're really big on collaboration and partnerships. And in kind donations are a really great way that companies and organizations can give back to their community in a way that really matches their specializations. Off the top of my head, we have these amazing storage partners, bluebird storage, big steel box, mini malls, storage have all offered us in kind donations or storage at a very discounted rate, because they see this as a way to give back to their community. We also have security and police as well as car rental and truck rental places. So in kind donations such as moving help or training, maybe moving companies want to show us how those big trucks can be pretty intimidating. And so we get these companies are so happy to give us this training and our volunteers. So we can learn how to comfortably navigate through city streets with these bigger trucks, when we use them or maybe moving can be really physically demanding. As you said before, not everyone can move a couch. But we can also learn maybe how to do it safely with the right equipment. And so we get a lot of companies really willing to give us this training, as it just again, if they can't volunteer, maybe they can't give any donations, it's a great way to give back to their communities.
Speaker 2 18:00
I think that's one of the most beautiful things is when company's values align with these very relevant and very needed services that support those who it's it's difficult to ask for help when you're in that situation. And then to know that there may not be a way you'll ever be able to pay that back. But your survival depends on it in in so many cases and, and your children's safety and just so, so so much around this whole topic of of abuse and violence. And what I love, when I hear that a company is willing to support that they're putting their name behind it, they're putting their reputation behind it. And many of them don't even want big recognition, they it's just from their heart. So as a way of really showing them that we care that we really appreciate what they're doing. I would love it if you could share more of those names. You mentioned bluebird storage. And there was some other ones that you mentioned. And if you know if we can give them a shout out and just mentioned to the audience, like if you are already looking, for example, storage, if you're looking anyways, prices are comparable, you can't decide between one two or three and bluebirds on the list. And you know that they support with this type of organization, which we should have mentioned, you are a charitable organization. So, obviously there's tax benefits for people who want to donate. So that's amazing if people are considering doing that, but I just think okay, well I know who I would pick because it aligns with my values and they they are showing support there. So If, you know, by putting this out there mentioning some of these businesses who are supporting shelter movers and is there is that available anywhere else that we can see? Who supports shelter movers? Is that on your website?
Speaker 1 20:14
Yes, so please, our national partners and chapter partners who do support shelter movers are all mentioned on our national website, which is shelter movers.com. And they really make this important work possible because you're right, they don't have to go above and beyond. But they do and a lot of companies do see this as not even going above and beyond that. They just it's an easy way for them to give back to their communities and they're happy to do it. A list that I can just say off the top of my head for for Calgary and Edmonton for storage, bluebird storage, big steel box mini mall storage. Our referral agencies right now row and house in High River fear is not love and Calgary as well as wind house in Edmonton security and police gardaworld Max security services but nya guarding the RCMP has been lovely as well as Calgary and Edmonton city police and helping us form these partnerships, community partners, women on wings here in Calgary, Mike Cameron in Edmonton has been such a great ally, say guests in Edmonton and Calgary, the Alberta LGBTQ plus Chamber of Commerce, community initiatives Against Family Violence as well. We can't forget car and truck rental because there are a huge part of the on the ground that we need volunteers to grab these cars and to move these people and Penske, Avis and enterprise within both cities. That's a national partnership, they've gone above and beyond to help us out and making sure that we have trucks and vans when we really need them. And other services that people can access. The ones I've mentioned before Rowan house fears not love, they do have amazing support programs and shelter services. Calgary Humane Society as well has an emergency pet fostering services. So you don't have to choose between leaving an abusive situation and leaving your pets behind. Because that's, that's not a way for anyone to move forward in a meaningful way. And they really give us that framework that we can bounce off of and make sure that everything is gathered women on wings in Calgary does these amazing events, these amazing lecture series that really give people who need support and information you can access it in a meaningful way, as well as Calgary did my domestic violence collective. So there are a lot of resources out there. But there also are a lot of companies out there that are supporting this kind of work. And yeah, I agree, I think it's important to make sure that they need people should know that these companies have gone above and beyond and that we're really so happy to partner with them.
Speaker 2 22:55
I think one of the other things that really hit me when I first heard about you is that gap that I hadn't even really wrap my head around and considered. And I was in that space at one point that I wanted to get out. Now fortunately, I was in the home alone at that point. But I still felt it still felt like it wasn't 100% safe, like there, you know, the person could still come back in and I just wanted to be out. And so I managed my own move, but it would have been much simpler to have someone helped me with that. And I guess when I heard what you did, it was like this aha moment going, Oh, yes, this Wow. Like this is something that could it just closes the gap? There's the support agencies? And how do they get to them? You know, first, like I'm trying to connect and make people aware that you know, what abuse is? Who's out there to support you? And now how do you get to them? And how do you get your stuff? How do you get out and stay out? So the gap that you are helping people with just I just found it such a relief even though I hadn't even fully considered how much this impacts people and I wish there would be a way and maybe there is at some point to know the stats behind people leaving like 10 to 12 times sometimes they will attempt and you know the abuse will escalate when they go back. If there's if they are able to take their belongings with them the first time or even the second you know, they they're more likely to stay out and not and not necessarily feel that's one more thing pulling them back that are that they have to give up. So you know, can you speak to that a little bit?
Speaker 1 24:50
Well, certainly and gender based violence is complicated and like you said people like yourself. Rosenhaus fears not love are really providing a framework of social support that people need to be able to leave these abusive environments for what's right for them and their children and their families. And it's really complicated and shelter movers, we kind of come into that, as a piece, where we remove that barrier, you're right moving and storage is a huge barrier. So we can just take that barrier right out of the equation and work within the social support networks to make sure that it's just a little bit easier. Because you're right, it's so hard to even think about leaving abusive environments. And so why wouldn't we make it as easy and transitional as possible for people? In Alberta? I think you were talking about stats. And every hour every day, a woman in Alberta is the victim of some sort of violence by an intimate partner. That's from Stats Canada. And we do know about when a woman announces her intention to leave an abusive situation that is when she is at the most in the most danger. So that's why why main shelter movers we work with security and police because often we do need to have them present for the safety of the client and the safety of our volunteers to make sure that everyone can leave that home safely. And that she's got her belongings her kids photographs, baby books, anything that she needs, her pet in the backseat heading to the Calgary Humane Society to be safely taken taken care of. They deserve that everyone deserves that. Everyone has inherent dignity. And we just make sure that people know this and that we're incredibly client centered. We don't do anything without the clients say, because I think I mentioned before we don't re traumatize, we know how hard it is. And we're here to help not make anything worse.
Speaker 2 26:54
So I'm thank you for addressing the safety issue. That was one of the first questions I asked you when we spoke earlier. And that's good to know that you have that support. And I think to the fact that, you know, people are are struggling to just to make this decision and follow through, and that you're not re traumatizing, meaning you're not going to hit them with a long list of questions and doubt. And are you sure and they aren't going to be facing that?
Speaker 1 27:28
No, client centered means client centered, we are anti oppressive, anti racist, and we do not re traumatize and we do very careful training with all of our volunteers and staff members to make sure that this is the case. Everyone goes through criminal background checks to make sure that we can act as volunteers. And we also go through a lot of training that shelter Movers has made to make sure that everyone knows how to not re traumatize because sometimes we don't even know that we're doing it. We're just ingrained in our own lived experience. So it's really good to have those zooming out moments where we can look at other people's lived experiences and learn all of this information beforehand. So that we're when we're on the moves and we're assisting that everyone is acting as needed that day move day can be incredibly traumatic and emotional for people. So the least that we can do is make sure that our volunteers are not re traumatizing on site. They're kind and professional, and that she's comfortable, our client is comfortable and that we aren't making this day any worse for her. If anything, we're just making it a little bit better. And just taking that barrier right out for her moving her stuff into storage. As long as she needs it. We just check in a couple of every couple of months to make sure that she's still good and that we need to store for her. And essentially, it's nothing's better when we finally get to take that stuff out of storage and put it into that new home and just see the smiles and that everything is going well like nothing is better for us than to be able to be a part of that solution that they need.
Speaker 2 29:07
That's beautiful. And what I want to make sure people are aware of is shelter Movers is not brand new in Canada. It's newly located now and opening in Calgary and Edmonton ready to go as soon as can find enough volunteers so that volunteer recruitment is of the utmost importance right now, so that you can help women. Can you tell us a bit about the history of shelter movers?
Speaker 1 29:32
Of course. So I think our story is really one of hope, like many of Canadians, our founder and CEO who was more college icon, he wanted to positively impact his community. He was on paternity leave at the time and he started to take a look around his community and examining some gender based violence in Canada and he saw those barriers that were present to leading and abusers and he was absolutely determined to make a difference and then shelter workers came from that and we've grown a lot since then. But we're still really that at our heart where we're grateful for all of our hard working volunteers, our partners, donors and staff who has helped us make shelter movers what it is today. And at our heart, I think we're still that organization that kind of popped up in 2016. And now we're in quite nine cities across Canada, Calgary and Edmonton brand new ones. And I should mention that this expansion, it's a prairie scale up project from Women and Gender Equality Canada, Marcy Ian, who's the minister? Excuse me, the Minister of Women. Oh, what is her full title, I should make sure that I give her her full title, because she's an absolutely fantastic person. She's the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and you. So because of this generous, wonderful grant, we're able to start expanding our services into the prairies. And starting with Alberta. So that's why Calgary and Edmonton are the next chapters eight and nine under cities that shelter numbers has expanded into.