Second stage shelters in Canada

Breaking the cycle of abuse and closing the housing gap

Women’s Shelter Canada

This report fills the research and policy gap and highlights the work of second stage shelters for survivors of violence in Canada.

This study situates violence against women at the centre of its inquiry into second stage shelters; this has shaped all aspects of the research design, questions, and analysis, as well as the approach to interviews and collaboration with participating second stage shelters. The project centres the lived experiences of survivors and is community-driven, collaborative, participatory, and action-oriented, with an overarching goal of creating impactful social change.