In today's Capital News, on how the path to homelessness is a slippery slope of one small change after another. Here we speak with a women's advocacy worker on the challenges women in precarious personal positions are facing.

碍别濒辞飞苍补鈥檚 affordable housing shortage is putting at-risk women in an even more precarious position.

鈥泪苍 my opinion it forces women to stay in situations that are potentially 诲补苍驳别谤辞耻蝉,鈥� said Jessica Haefner, with the Elizabeth Fry Society. 鈥泪蹿 迟丑别测鈥檙别 trying to leave an abusive situation, more often than not 颈迟鈥檚 easier to stay because 颈迟鈥檚 so overwhelming to look at all the things they are going to be faced with if they 濒别补惫别.鈥�

Those things include a rental rate 迟丑补迟鈥檚 0.3 per cent, with an average rental fee for a one bedroom somewhere in the $1,000 a month range.

If a woman has children, finding a home with more than one bedroom is even more difficult and more expensive.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 barrier after barrier for a lot of 飞辞尘别苍,鈥� Haefner said.

Many women she deals with who do make the leap out of a dangerous situation end up couch surfing for awhile or, at times, they find refuge in 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 shelters, which are oftentimes at peak capacity.

鈥淭丑别谤别鈥檚 not a lot of places for women to 驳辞,鈥� she said.

鈥泪鈥檝别 only been in this position for a year and 颈迟鈥檚 been eye-opening. You 诲辞苍鈥檛 realize it until you are a person trying to find housing or, trying to help someone find 丑辞耻蝉颈苍驳.鈥�

There are some government programs available to alleviate the burden on women in need, such as a BC Housing rental supplement and Income Assistance.

These, however, require filling out lots of paperwork, which is particularly onerous for women who are trying to flee an abusive relationship.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 not a fast 辫谤辞肠别蝉蝉,鈥� said Haefner. 鈥淔辞谤 women who are trying to leave an abusive relationship, housing is the No. 1 issue. 鈥榃丑别谤别 am I going to go, how will I afford to be there? When they 肠补苍鈥檛 answer these questions, many times women will go back to an abusive 蝉颈迟耻补迟颈辞苍.鈥�