Increased demand for shelters

A RECENTLY released report on the state of domestic violence shelters during the first six months of the lockdown revealed that the pandemic had imposed new demands with additional expenses.

Titled “Adapting to Disaster” the report by the National Shelter Movement and Heinrich Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation was drawn from interviews at 28 shelters in eight provinces and outlines how they adapted to the lockdown. It also looked at admission and occupancy rates during the first six months of the lockdown.

Lead research consultant Lisa Vetten said most shelters were “running around like headless chickens”.

She said the unanticipated costs came at the end of the financial year, when shelters eked out the last funds and were uncertain when the next tranche of Department of Social Development funds would arrive.

Vetten said despite the host of unplanned costs, there had been no increase to shelters’ funding.