Availability and accessibility of community based services for family violence victims: a comparative case study of Trochu, Alberta and Calgary, Alberta

Using a comparison case study method, the goal of this undergraduate honours project was to compile a resource inventory of the community based services for victims of family violence specific to a Southern Alberta rural town to those in an urban area. This topic is important to examine because rates of family violence are higher among rural populations than in urban areas (Statistics Canada, 2016, p. 43; Northcott, 2011, p. 10). Due to the unique nature of family violence criminality and victimization, victims require additional supports beyond those provided by the criminal justice system. Community based agencies offer various resources that may be used in helping individuals cope with, address, and/or escape situations involving family violence. The resource inventory includes and compares the community based services available to victims of family violence in the rural community of Trochu, Alberta, to those available in the urban center of Calgary, Alberta. In short, while there was no difference in the community based services available to family violence victims, differences were in the accessibility of community services were apparent in terms of: geography and transportation options; diversity of services; and the technology used by the agencies.