Ottawa, 6 August 2021

Today, the Hon. Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), announced that Women’s Shelters Canada (WSC) will be distributing $81.5 million of federal funds across the country to eligible shelters and transition houses supporting women and children fleeing violence.

In April, the federal government unveiled its Budget 2021, which included a $600 million investment in initiatives that anti-violence experts, including WSC, have been calling for. These investments are viewed as a step towards Canada’s National Action Plan on Violence Against Women & Gender-Based Violence. $200 million is specifically for organizations that deal with gender-based violence. Of this, Women’s Shelters Canada will be distributing $81.5 million over the next two fiscal years to VAW shelters and transition houses across the country, with the exception of shelters in Quebec (whose funds will be distributed by the Government of Quebec).

“We are incredibly pleased that WAGE and the federal government as a whole recognizes the valuable work of shelters in keeping women and children safe and has once again entrusted WSC in distributing these funds,” said Lise Martin, executive director of Women’s Shelters Canada.

In 2020, WSC distributed $36 million of federal funds to over 400 VAW shelters and transition houses across the country, $20.5 million in the Spring and $15.7 million in late Fall.

“As we did in 2020 with the emergency COVID-19 federal funds, we welcome the opportunity to get these funds to shelters and transition houses as easily as possible,” said Martin. “We know that shelters continue to struggle with the effects of the pandemic and will need support for post-pandemic recovery. These funds will help shelters respond to the demand for shelter services, which has only increased since COVID-19.”

WSC will be reaching out to all eligible VAW shelters and transition houses in the Fall with further information about this funding opportunity and process.

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For media enquiries, contact:
Lise Martin, Executive Director
lmartin@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.