A new study from the University of Calgary shows a spike in the number of women seeking out space in Alberta shelters following the holidays.

Executive Director of the Rowan House Women's Emergency Shelter Sherrie Botten says her numbers bear that out.

"I went on and looked at our statistics and interestingly enough, for the last three years, we have had intakes of women coming into the shelter on January 1."

Botten says she hasn't been able to put her finger on exactly why the spike in numbers happens on that particular day.

"People start saying "OK, this is it. I'm going to turn that page and do something different." Is that it? I don't know. January 2 doesn't have that spike, but January 1 does. And truly in the last three years we've seen our admissions, or people being at the shelter, almost double from December to January."

Botten says she can't pinpoint an exact reason for the spike, but says it may have to do with giving children in the situation their Christmas before making changes in the New Year.