Shelter Movers Calgary supports survivors leaving unsafe situations, hoping to fill the gap in support services for these individuals. They provide services to assist survivors in a variety of ways, like storage and transportation, and many of these roles are fulfilled by their volunteers. To learn more, we spoke to Brienne Wiebe, the Operations Manager.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
At Shelter Movers, we support survivors by removing one of the biggest obstacles to leaving an unsafe situation – the fear of having to leave everything behind. Starting over is hard enough, but it becomes even more painful when children are involved and don’t understand why their familiar belongings are gone. Thanks to our kind-hearted volunteers and our proven service model, we’re able to safely move families and their belongings, helping them take the first step toward rebuilding safe lives. With this burden lifted, our clients can focus on healing, reclaiming their independence, and creating a safe new home without having to start from nothing.
What problem does it aim to solve?
There is a clear and established gap in support services for survivors of intimate-partner and family violence, which often causes them to leave their unsafe situation with only the belongings they can carry or, worse, to stay because they have no way to take their belongings with them. Even if a survivor has somewhere to go when they decide to leave, they often don’t have the money or help to move much of their stuff with them. Packing is strenuous and time-consuming, and moving and storage are incredibly expensive. We assist in solving those logistical problems around fleeing abuse. When the fears around leaving sentimental items behind, especially if children are involved, and the financial burden of starting over can be enough to keep a survivor from deciding to leave, we want to make sure it doesn’t have to be a challenge.
When did you start/join it?
I have been working with Shelter Movers for over a year.
What made you want to get involved?
I’ve worked in the social sector for many years, and what I love about Shelter Movers is how they consistently strike a balance between being client-centred while also valuing and supporting their volunteers. Since joining, I’ve seen them stay true to their mission every step of the way. I even moved to Calgary to get involved, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I started, we were managing an average of 3 to 5 moves per month. At the time, Shelter Movers was still relatively new to Calgary, so we faced some challenges becoming known in the community. We’ve focused on building our network, establishing partnerships, and laying the groundwork to better support survivors and remove more barriers along the way.
How has it changed since?
Since then, we’ve expanded significantly. We now have more partnerships in Calgary, including support for storage, transportation, and pet fostering. We’ve worked with over 30 agencies to help clients through these critical transitions and are now managing 8 to 12 moves per month. As we continue to grow, we’re focused not only on building new community partnerships but also on recruiting more volunteers, as both are essential to reaching more survivors and sustaining this vital service.
What more needs to be done?
While we’ve made meaningful progress in Calgary, there’s still more to be done. The demand for our services continues to grow, and to keep up, we need to expand both our volunteer base and community partnerships. More volunteers will mean we can respond more quickly and support more survivors, while stronger partnerships, especially in areas like storage and transportation, help remove critical barriers to our service model by keeping our costs low. We also need continued awareness and funding to ensure this essential service remains sustainable and accessible to anyone who needs it. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure no survivor has to choose between their safety and their belongings.
How can our readers help?
There are several ways to get involved. First and foremost, we need people on the ground. If you have time and want to make a direct impact in your community, we’re always looking for volunteers to help with moves. Our moves are completed primarily by volunteers, and it’s the generosity of those volunteers who donate their time and energy that helps ensure we’re able to remove the financial barrier of moving for survivors.
If you’re able to support financially, we gratefully accept donations to help keep this vital work going. Even if you’re not in a position to give time or money, simply spreading the word makes a huge difference in helping us become known in the community. Raising awareness about organizations like Shelter Movers can help us reach potential donors, or even someone in need who doesn’t yet know help is out there.
Do you have any events coming up?
We have a few events in the works right now, and we always announce them on our social media pages, so keep an eye out for those! You can find us under the name Shelter Movers on all socials.
Where can we follow you?
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We work closely with WINS, and I really admire the incredible support they provide to women in need. They’re an amazing resource for anyone looking to rebuild their lives, offering practical help and compassionate care when it’s needed most.
