Calgary organizations helping women fleeing violence say the faltering economy has sent calls for help soaring.

The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter received 1,366 calls in February — three times as many calls as in the same month last year.

"In boom economy or a bust economy you have higher incidence of domestic violence."—Arlene Adamson

Executive director Lisa Falkowsky said counsellors are doing the best they can given the flood of calls, but the shelter is full and women are being housed in hotels and other "safe havens."

"The length of time that we have had a poor economy is starting to really add up and weigh on people," she said.

In tough times, just as in booms, alcohol and drug use increases, which can lead to violence at home, Falkowsky said, adding that abusive men also aren't as good at controlling themselves when they're stressed.

She suspects that some abused women aren't seeking help because research shows that in an unstable economy, women are more likely to stay in an abusive relationship — they may be scared of starting a new life, or worried that shelters are already stretched too thin.

Gill Weaver-Dunlop, who counsels abusive men for the organization, said she is hearing the desperation.

"We're really hearing about the increased anxiety that they have. We certainly have seen people in pretty dire financial need in terms of not being able to meet basic needs."

YWCA also full

At Calgary's YWCA, the women's shelter is full, a program that offers domestic violence counselling to children in schools has a six month waiting list and there aren't enough people to answer a 24-hour help line.

"In boom economy or a bust economy you have higher incidence of domestic violence," said director Arlene Adamson. "The phone is ringing off the hook and we don't have the capacity to answer all of them."

But while calls are growing, so far this year the organization has raised only half the money it took in by this time last year. The goal is to raise nearly $3 million for programs for women and children.

"The challenge is that everyone only worries about their own well-being in these tough economies," said Adamson.