LETTER: Surrey is facing a family-violence crisis
Published 8:00 am Sunday, August 2, 2026
Editor,
Surrey is facing a family-violence crisis and we can’t ignore it. The Battered Women’s Support Services reported there were about 1,200 requests from new survivors every month, yet so many have no idea where to turn when violence occurs. This is not a failure on individuals but a failure of the public system.
Despite recent federal funding announcements, survivors will face waitlists for support. Most never contact police and rely on non-legal services that are stretched beyond capacity. When someone is feeling violence, a waitlist is not support — it’s a barrier that puts lives at risk.
Another barrier is strict eligibility criteria that is attached to many programs. Even when people are actively experiencing violence, they are often denied help because they do not meet income thresholds or other requirements. Violence does not discriminate by income, yet our support systems do while leaving survivors without access to safety planning, counselling or housing navigation.
While the government highlights new investments into programs to help individuals facing family violence, it can mean nothing if survivors cannot access help when they need it. Surrey needs to provide a public awareness strategy and an expansions of non-legal support.
Shanell Ahir, Surrey