Women’s Shelters Canada Welcomes Opportunity to Distribute Federal Funds to VAW Shelters Across the Country

Ottawa, 4 April 2020

Today, the Hon. Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced that Women’s Shelters Canada (WSC) will be distributing federal funds across the country to eligible shelters and transition houses supporting women and children fleeing violence.

On March 18, the federal government announced $50 million to support the sector working to end violence against women (VAW). Of this, up to $26 million has been dedicated as emergency funding to support eligible VAW shelters and transition houses. With the exception of shelters funded by Indigenous Services Canada (whose emergency funds will be distributed directly by ISC) and those in Quebec (where work is underway on the implementation of this important initiative with the Government of Quebec), the federal government asked Women’s Shelters Canada to disburse these funds to all eligible VAW shelters and transition houses across the country.

“The timing of this money is crucial for shelters and the women and children they support,” said Lise Martin, executive director of Women’s Shelters Canada. “We are committed to getting these funds to shelters and transition houses as quickly and easily as possible. We know that shelters were already struggling with high demand and a lack of funding before the pandemic. Since COVID-19, the demand for shelter services has increased here in Canada, as it has around the world.”

WSC is reaching out to all eligible VAW shelters and transition houses today to inform them of the process. We are working with 14 provincial and territorial shelter/transition house associations, full members of WSC, to ensure that this process is as smooth as possible. All eligible VAW shelters and transition houses will receive this funding, regardless of membership of a provincial or territorial association.

WSC welcomes the opportunity to play this small role in supporting the essential work done by VAW shelters and transition houses across the country.

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For media enquiries, contact:
Kaitlin Bardswich, Communications and Development Manager
kbardswich@endvaw.ca

Women’s Shelters Canada brings together 14 provincial and territorial shelter organizations. We work as a unified voice to collaborate, educate, and innovate for systemic change that ends violence against women, making Canada a model for safety in the world.