Volunteers urgently needed at Montreal non-profit that helps women flee abusive homes

It's been 10 years since Nathalie Trottier made the difficult decision to move out of her home, leaving behind 25 years of abuse at the hands of her partner — but also all of her belongings.

"When I left, I lost everything," she recalls of her move, empty-handed, into a women's shelter. 

That's why a volunteer-powered non-profit that offers free moving and storage services to help women and children escape violence is so dear to her heart — and why a lack of volunteers to keep up with demand is so worrisome.

"It's already hard to leave but when you also have to rebuild your life and on top of that have to refurnish … this [organization] removes the obstacle that leaves you with nothing, like in my case," said Trottier, a domestic violence speaker and spokesperson for Shelter Movers Montreal. 

The organization — called Transit Secours, in French —  co-ordinates the logistics of moving so that survivors of domestic violence can recover their belongings, free of charge and safely. The service works side-by-side with victims on the day of the move and hires security to keep both the victim and volunteers safe.

Clients are referred to the organization by community agencies, including women's shelters, CLSCs, social workers and other professionals working with victims of domestic violence. Shelter Movers has six locations, including a Montreal chapter that was launched during the pandemic in the fall of 2020, when domestic violence numbers rose significantly. 

According to a Quebec study, more than one in six Quebec women in a relationship experienced some form of conjugal violence in October 2021. The Montreal region was the most affected, with 22.5 per cent of respondents experiencing conjugal violence that month.

Amid Moving Day in Quebec, demand for services from Shelter Movers Montreal has soared. But staff say some upcoming moves might have to be postponed if more volunteers don't step up, while other families might be left without support for months. 

Renata Fuchs Militzer, the chapter director of Shelter Movers for the Montreal region, says being able to take their belongings out of a violent home helps break the cycle of abuse for victims of domestic violence.

"They don't have that connection to the home in the same way, and so in that sense, it's a lot more than just material things," she said. It also breaks down part of the barrier of financial insecurity that often leaves women feeling like they have no option but to stay with their abusers, she said. 

Currently, there is a two-month waiting list for services from Shelter Movers Montreal due to a lack of volunteers. Fuchs Militzer estimates that about 50 per cent of the people who are contacting her are cancelling their move or not coming back for services because the wait is too long.

"We're always very concerned about those families. What have they done in the meantime?" she said. She worries many women are going back to their abusers. 

LISTEN: Director of Shelter Movers Montreal explains how the service works: 

Hélène Langevin, executive director of the women's shelter La Maison Simonne-Monet-Chartrand which helps victims of domestic violence, says Shelter Movers Montreal is a "critical need" for survivors. She says her partnership with them completes a chain that for years has been missing a key link.