Nearly 1,300 women used shelters on one day

The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters released statistics Friday about the number of women and children who sought help on one day last November.

On Nov. 21, 1281 women and 1481 children used a shelter in Alberta. Ninety women and 63 children were turned away that day due to a lack of space.

Thirty-five women reported that they were threatened with a gun, an increase from 2011 even though fewer shelters reported in 2012.

 "It’s up 62 per cent from last year," said executive director Jan Reimer.

According to the report, shelters face problems like a lack of funding, low wages for staff and a problem finding safe affordable housing for their clients.

The data for the one-day count was compiled by 41 organizations across Alberta.