We provide the missing piece in Canada’s response to gender-based violence: trauma-informed moving and storage services that let survivors leave abusers without debt or delay.
Shelter Movers envisions a future where leaving violence is practical and immediate for every woman, child, and gender-diverse person in need, supported by communities ready to mobilize trucks, storage, and trauma-informed hands at no cost.
We mobilize trained volunteers, local businesses, and frontline partners for urgent exits, escorted property retrievals, and resettlement moves—always by referral, always prioritizing survivor safety and dignity.
Through national expansion, volunteer networks, and partnerships with shelters and victim services, we aim to eliminate logistical barriers to safety, ensuring survivors can rebuild with dignity across every province and territory.
Marc Hull-Jacquin founded Shelter Movers in 2016 while on parental leave with his young children. Motivated by learning about the high rates of gender-based violence in Canada and the barriers survivors face when leaving abusers, he sought to fill a critical service gap by providing free moving and storage support.
Marc drew personal inspiration from his three children, particularly reflecting on the challenges of raising girls amid violence against women and teaching his son to be a better man. He transitioned from a corporate role, including positions at Enbridge Gas Distribution and the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, to launch the organization from his basement in Toronto with initial help from a local women's shelter, a truck, and a few volunteers.
Starting as The Shelter Movers of Toronto, the volunteer-powered charity expanded nationally to cities including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Southwestern Ontario, Ottawa, Montreal, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, completing over 10,000 moves since inception. In 2022, he received the Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions to Canadian society through Shelter Movers' humanitarian efforts.
We are powered by thousands of compassionate Canadians, everyday heroes from all walks of life, who roll up their sleeves as staff and volunteers to deliver trauma-informed service for women, children, and gender-diverse survivors of abuse. Together, our people transform fear into freedom, one secure transition at a time.
We work through a seamless network of trained volunteers, dedicated staff, and frontline partners who coordinate every move with precision and care. From initial referral by a shelter or victim service to execution, our process prioritizes survivor-led safety planning, clear communication, and zero-cost support.
Everyone has the right to safety, especially in times of vulnerability. We create client safety through tailored training, trauma-informed practices, and confidentiality. This commitment to safety extends to our volunteers and staff through a shared responsibility across the organization to ensure physical, psychological, and environmental safety.
We promote equity by prioritizing accessibility and inclusion throughout Shelter Movers. We acknowledge the intersectionality of oppression and unique experiences of discrimination. By actively reducing barriers, we are working to make our services accessible to all individuals fleeing abuse, particularly those who often face disproportionate challenges in accessing support.
We are committed to accepting new challenges and continually adapting our services, informed by client feedback. We collaborate with survivors, volunteers, community organizations, and supporters to foster relationships grounded in trust, transparency, and accountability.
Clients are the experts in their experiences. We consistently work to create an environment of dignity, empowerment, and compassion. We recognize the prevalent, systematic, and interpersonal nature of trauma and intentionally resist re-traumatization.
We believe change comes from consistent, researched, client-centred direct action with survivors. We are committed to providing local agencies, individuals, businesses, and government an opportunity to contribute to a tangible, coordinated solution to address gender-based violence.
