VIDEO: Kelowna Women's Shelter needs more space

Reaction to last week's sentencing of wife-killer Mohammed Shamji was mixed at the Kelowna Women's Shelter.

"It's great that he was found guilty, it's great that he's going to prison," said executive director Karen Mason, "but the piece that he could be eligible for parole in 14 years, just hit me really hard."

Mason reacts to the Shamji case and addresses the challenges at the Kelowna Shelter to make sure that every woman escaping an abusive relationship has a place to go.

That case helps answer one of the most common questions that come up on the subject of women living in abusive relationships.

"Why doesn't she just leave?" It also provides a horrifying answer. Elana Fric had just served her husband with divorce papers days earlier when she was strangled to death in her home with their children in the next room. He then stuffed her body in a suitcase and dumped it.

"A woman is most at risk for physical harm and death when she chooses to leave," said Mason. But trying to keep women safe as they leave a relationship is a shelter's core purpose.

"We encourage every woman who is considering leaving a dangerous relationship to create a plan of action first," she said. "Our councillors at the shelter are available 24 hours a day and will do safety planning with women either in person or on the phone."

Providing a place for women in these situations isn't always easy, however. "We are at our max capacity pretty much every night of the year," she said. But she added that no woman is left with no place to go, even if means sending them to another community or arranging a hotel.

A new facility recently announced by BC Housing will provide second stage housing for women fleeing abuse. And that is expected to take some pressure off the demands on the shelter.

Anyone looking for help escaping an abusive relationship is urged to contact the Kelowna Women's Shelter at 250-763-1040.