Phone program provides digital lifelines

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A program to provide cell phones to Albertans in crisis is expanding to more women’s shelters and transition houses across Alberta.

Last spring, Rogers Communications launched its “digital lifeline” program providing women’s shelters with phones and paid plans. 

The company recently announced the program would be expanding, with more phones reaching more women escaping violence and abuse.

Through this program, phones and plans have been donated to more than 30 women’s shelters and transition houses in Rogers wireless coverage areas in Alberta. One of these organizations was the Wheatland Crisis Society, which operates the Strathmore Shelter.

The program has been an asset for local women and their families escaping abuse, explained Wanda McGinnis, Wheatland Crisis Society CEO.

“It makes sure those who are living in violence have an opportunity to access communication, and it gives an opportunity for people who are scared or don’t have other ways of reaching out to be able to stay in contact,” she said.

The Strathmore Shelter has seen varying trends in call volume and demand for services throughout the pandemic, said McGinnis. But the greatest predictor of demand has been the degree of public health restrictions, with fewer calls coming when restrictions are stricter.

This could be a troubling sign, with women in abusive situations being less likely to be able to access help during these times.

“The violence is still happening, and I think it’s increasing,” noted McGinnis.

As evidence of this, the shelter is increasingly encountering clients suffering from the most serious types of abuse, such as strangulation and assaults with weapons, even if the number of calls has decreased.

The lower call volume could be because public health mandates and recommendations, such as social distancing and stay-at-home areas, may make it more difficult for those in abusive situations to access help. For example, one of the most common times when someone calls for help is when their spouse is at work. 

But with many people now working from home, these chances are less frequent.

McGinnis said the hope is the lifeline phone program could help work around these challenges. “When you have a device that is private, it offers an opportunity to connect in a way you might not have been able to before.”

Those who need the phones are the highest risk clients. 

“We’ve been very grateful to be able to give them an opportunity to have a phone and a plan that isn’t being monitored by someone else and isn’t reliant on someone else,” she said. “It could very well be saving lives.”