Community support agencies in Eastern Ontario are witnessing a noticeable increase in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV), with rising calls for better and more coordinated responses among the concerned agencies.

According to a report published by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Harmony House, a women’s shelter in Ottawa, has noticed a rise in demand for its services over the past year, amid ongoing pressures from the cost-of-living crisis and the difficulty of finding alternative safe housing.

Christine Bradbury, the Executive Director of Harmony House, said, “People come to us in moments of desperation, and we work hard to meet this need,” pointing out that some women have had to remain in abusive relationships due to a lack of options.

New data released by the Ontario Provincial Police showed that the number of domestic violence reports in the eastern region increased by 6% between 2022 and 2023, which authorities described as a “worrying trend” that requires multi-level intervention.

Inspector Sean Speed, from the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Ontario Police, confirmed that the police cannot address this problem alone, saying: “We need a strong network of community organizations, mental health services, and legal support to provide real assistance.”

The report also pointed to challenges related to the speed of response, availability of shelters, and urgent support programs, as well as the need to address the root causes of violence such as poverty and economic pressures.

In light of the increasing cases, community support officials emphasized the necessity of providing stable and permanent funding for these services, and expanding cooperation between the police, health agencies, and non-profit organizations to ensure the protection of victims and continuous support for them.