Courtesy Shelter Movers

A national non-profit called Shelter Movers which helps women and children move who are fleeing domestic violence is opening a chapter in Moncton this fall.

Shelter Movers currently has six chapters across Canada including Halifax and moves about 130 families each month.

This would be the first chapter in New Brunswick.

Spokesperson Renee Charron recently introduced the volunteer-powered organization to Moncton City Council.

Charron said the non-profit has partnered with three local referral agencies – Harvest House Atlantic, YWCA and Crossroads for Women.

“Just from those three referral agencies, they have estimated needing our services up to 25 times a month.”

Charron said the non-profit adds to the social safety net for survivors.

“We did a little bit of research and we found that here in New Brunswick, it is the province with the highest murder-suicide rate in the country. In fact, two thirds of the women who were murdered were still living with the accused at the time.”

Charron said the service is badly needed here and quoted statistics from the City of Moncton that showed more than one-third of people experiencing homelessness is due to family conflict and spousal abuse.

Several councillors applauded the efforts of the organization.

Shelter Movers is seeking support from the City of Moncton and wants to form partnerships with the business community.

Charron noted the non-profit relies on private donors, community grants and funding from all three levels of government to operate.

As a former social worker and RCMP victims services coordinator, Charron added it was Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor who contacted the organization and urged it to open a chapter in Moncton.