Photo credit: Odyssey House/Facebook.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Many reasons people don’t flee family violence says Odyssey House official

Nov 20, 2025 | 6:00 AM

An official with Grande Prairie’s women’s shelter says there are many reasons why people stay in and don’t report domestic violence.

Odyssey House executive director Mikaela Benson says besides not feeling ready or safe to do this, the economy and “the housing climate” means a lot of financial insecurity.

“I think only 20 per cent, give or take, instances of family violence are actually reported to police authorities, and so, we know that a large portion of the population experiencing family violence don’t come forward and don’t report.”

Benson says last year, Odyssey House supported 1,100 women and children, along with answering 2,600 crisis calls and that numbers are similar for this year.

Benson adds it is important to remember that when it comes to family violence “there is a relationship there.”

“And so, oftentimes, if the forms of abuse didn’t exist, individuals wouldn’t be looking to leave and looking for a way out, right?”

“That may not always be the case, but that’s likely a strong factor in most cases, and that’s why we call it a cycle of violence, right?”

Benson says child care, food insecurity, lack of employment and education, and fear of losing the support of others are also factors that may keep someone from leaving a violent situation.

She adds on average, it takes seven attempts for someone fleeing violence to stay away permanently.

Benson says the community can help those dealing with family violence.

She adds Grande Prairie is at a unique time as “there’s lots of large-scale system change pilots taking place.”

“There’s one happening in our family court system that Odyssey House, as well as the Grande Prairie Family Education Society and the Re-Imagining the Family Justice (System) pilot, are all working together to adjust our responses to families in the family court system in supporting them more holistically.”

Benson says Odyssey House is not fully funded by the government, so it does rely on donations from the community, adding they are grateful for the support from what she calls “a very generous community.”

She adds people can also volunteer at various events.

November is Family Violence Prevention Month. Benson says this is what Odyssey House wants to focus on in the future.

“We have intervention services, but the big question we’re continuing to ask is ‘why do we have to exist, and can we be part of the solution?’ and I truly think that if we’re all willing to come together and look at these issues and the crisis in our community, that we can come up with new solutions.”