The abuse of women and families knows no socio-economic, racial or ethnic boundaries and thrives in difficult economic times.

The Town of Orangeville having proclaimed November Woman Abuse Prevention Month, Norah Kennedy of Family Transition Place (FTP) spoke at last week's town council meeting and related that "the impact of the recession is significant and we are starting to see that impact.

"The 1,000 more calls we have received on our crisis line seem to be an indicator of that."

FTP, an agency that provides support for victims of abuse and sexual assault survivors, reports that it has received 3,982 calls to its crisis line in 2009. It has provided shelter, this year, for 162 women and 103 children.

Other groups in this region are joining to fight against this problem, including the Dufferin- Caledon Domestic Assault Review Team (DART), which was founded in 1994 to improve the working relationships, communications and response services of Dufferin and Caledon serving victims of women abuse.

DART has compiled a list of what it regards as "frightening facts" about women abuse, starting with the statistic that 50 per cent of Canadian women are physically or sexually assaulted at least once in their lifetimes.

As well, 68 per cent of all single mothers reported experiencing violence in previous marriages and common-law unions, females aged 15 to 24 had the highest rate of spousal homicide between 1994 and 2003 and, from 2003 to 2004, 17,226 women and 11,565 dependent children were admitted to shelters in Ontario.

There have been encouraging signs, though. Ms. Kennedy told council that the violence prevention programs in schools have been so well received that there is a waiting list for schools wanting to participate.

As well, related fundraising goals continue to meet and/or exceed their goals. Among these fundraisers is the Heidi Ferguson Memorial Walk/Run scheduled for Sept. 12, 2010, the first anniversary of Heidi Ferguson's murder by her estranged husband, who then took his own life. The proceeds will go to FTP.

Teena Bognor, Ms. Ferguson's cousin, spoke to Orangeville council at the same time as Ms. Kennedy.

"We are grappling to come to terms with this devastating loss," she said, adding that the walk/run "is taking place to make sure that this tragedy never happens again."