Introduction
Every two days in Canada, a woman or girl is killed—often by someone she knows. For survivors of abuse, leaving home is terrifying and complicated. How do you gather your belongings, arrange storage, and stay safe if your abuser controls everything?
In this episode of the Movified Podcast, Mark Hirschi sits down with Marc Hull-Jacquin, founder and CEO of Shelter Movers, a nonprofit that provides free moving and storage services to women and children fleeing abuse.
What began in 2016 with one rented truck in Toronto has grown into a national organization with nine chapters, 1,000+ volunteers, and a $6M annual budget. This article highlights Marc’s journey, the model behind Shelter Movers, and why moving professionals everywhere should consider getting involved.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Shelter Movers fills a critical gap in helping abuse survivors: the logistics of leaving.
- Since 2016, the organization has completed 7,000+ moves without a single violent incident.
- Professional movers can amplify Shelter Movers’ impact by donating trucks, crews, or storage.
- Partnerships with local businesses create sustainable, community-based support systems.
Table of Contents
The Origin of Shelter Movers
Shelter Movers was born out of Marc Hull-Jacquin’s reflections during parental leave with his daughter. Looking at her safe and joyful childhood, he realized not every child in Canada had that same security. Many grew up in homes marked by daily abuse.
Despite having no background in moving, Marc took action. He rented trucks out of pocket, moving survivors late at night—sometimes four or five times a week. These grassroots efforts evolved into a scalable model combining compassion, logistics, and community support.
What Makes Shelter Movers Different
While most charities focus on emergency response or housing, Shelter Movers tackles the logistical challenge of leaving. Survivors often had no choice but to flee with only a stroller or bag, leaving their lives behind.
Shelter Movers flips this narrative. Trained volunteers handle the heavy lifting, security and police support when necessary, and businesses provide trucks and storage. Survivors stay in control, choosing what to take and when to leave.
Marc puts it simply:
“Our clients are the Luke Skywalkers of the story. We’re the Obi-Wan Kenobi—just there to guide them for part of the journey.”
How Shelter Movers Works
Every move starts with a risk assessment:
- High and medium-risk cases: unmarked trucks, security teams, and sometimes police.
- Low-risk cases: survivors moving from shelters into permanent homes, often with professional moving partners.
The model is empowering: survivors point to what they want, and the team moves it. Marc notes how survivors often transform during the process—quiet at first, but confident and assertive by the end.
Partnerships make this sustainable. For example:
- Penske donates trucks in Vancouver.
- Bluebird Storage offers free space.
- Local security companies provide support services.
Stories of Courage
Shelter Movers’ true impact is measured in lives changed. Marc recalls one mother moving into her first safe home with her young son. As he unpacked toys and played freely, she looked around and said proudly: “I did this. I got out.”
In other cases, abusers destroyed belongings or left chilling threats. Even then, Shelter Movers ensured survivors could escape with dignity and safety.
Since 2016, 7,000+ moves have been completed, with zero violent incidents—a testament to meticulous planning and coordination.
The Role of Professional Movers
Volunteers power Shelter Movers, but professional movers bring expertise that elevates every move:
- Safe packing of fragile items
- Efficient disassembly and reassembly
- Reliable logistics coordination
“Happy ending” moves—where survivors settle into new homes—are ideal for professional involvement. These moves are often scheduled weeks in advance, making it easier for companies to lend trucks and crews.
By joining forces:
- Survivors experience smoother transitions.
- Volunteers receive on-the-job training.
- Moving companies show leadership in action.
Why Movers Should Partner with Shelter Movers
Supporting Shelter Movers is more than philanthropy—it’s smart business:
- Community Reputation: Customers respect companies that give back.
- Employee Morale: Crews take pride in meaningful work.
- Media Visibility: Partnerships often attract local and national press.
Marc emphasizes:
“Violence against women is not just a women’s issue—it’s a men’s issue. Movers already have the trucks, crews, and knowledge. By stepping in, they restore dignity and safety.”
Partnership opportunities include:
- Donating trucks for scheduled moves
- Offering short-term or long-term storage
- Training volunteers in moving best practices
- Sponsoring new Shelter Movers chapters
A National Need
Domestic violence remains a national crisis. Each year, police respond to 140,000+ domestic violence calls in Canada.
Shelter Movers currently completes 2,000 moves annually—just a fraction of demand. With greater support, Marc believes the service could scale 10x across Canada and potentially into the United States.
Explore partnership opportunities at sheltermovers.com.
Why This Matters for the Moving Industry
Shelter Movers proves that the moving industry can be more than trucks and boxes—it can be a lifesaving force. By contributing time, expertise, or resources, movers play a role in breaking cycles of abuse.
As Marc explains:
“We have endless demand for our service. The only limit is the number of people willing to step forward and help.”
For moving companies, the benefits extend beyond altruism:
- Stronger customer trust
- Increased employee engagement
- Recognition as community leaders
Why Choose Movified
Movified brings insider stories, expert insights, and proven strategies from the moving industry straight to you. With years of industry experience, host Mark Hirschi connects with leaders like Marc Hull-Jacquin to showcase innovation, resilience, and humanity in moving.
Conclusion
Shelter Movers has transformed the lives of thousands of abuse survivors, proving that logistics and compassion can work hand in hand. But the need is still immense.
For movers, the call to action is clear: you already have the trucks, crews, and expertise—now put them to work for a cause that truly saves lives.
Meet The Host
Mark Hirschi is the founder and host of Movified. With over a decade in the moving and storage industry, Mark combines real-world leadership experience with a passion for mentorship and elevating industry standards.
