Hours reduced for Flathead Valley domestic violence helpline

The Flathead Valley’s shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence is reducing the hours of its telephone Helpline due to a shortage of volunteers.

Beginning this week, the Abbie Shelter’s 24-hour Helpline (406-752-7273) will experience temporary breaks in service on nights and weekends. It will be staffed regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Trained volunteers answer the Helpline and offer assistance and resources to people in need. Recently, shelter staff has been picking up overnight and weekend shifts when volunteers are unavailable.

“Our staff work tirelessly for our mission and our clients, yet they are not tireless,” Abbie Shelter Executive Director Hilary Shaw said in a press release. “Working the Helpline on nights and weekends — in addition to our regular business day duties – is exhaustive for staff and unsustainable for the organization. Likewise, we cannot depend on volunteers to carry an inflated load of Helpline shifts. We need to advocate for our advocates.”

Shaw said that, like other nonprofits, the Abbie Shelter has seen reduced volunteer involvement since the Covid pandemic, along with increasing demands.

“The Abbie Shelter has experienced both, with a more than 50% increase in need that has not waned,” Shaw said.

Going forward, when no one is available for a 12-hour shift, the Helpline will be closed. The shelter anticipates five to eight unstaffed shifts out of 40 each month.

An answering service will direct callers to other 24-hour resources. People in immediate danger should call 911, Shaw said.

The shelter needs about eight to 10 additional volunteers with availability to take one overnight or weekend shift every week, to bring the Helpline back to 24 hours.

“We are heavy-hearted for people who need support now, at that exact moment of readiness to call, regardless of time of day or day of week,” Shaw said. “We know many survivors are unable to access services during business hours. We look forward to sustaining this 24/7 service again when we have sufficient resources.”

To learn more about volunteer, visit www.abbieshelter.org/volunteer, or contact community@abbieshelter.org.