With the support of the Slaight Family Foundation, Women’s Shelters Canada (WSC) launched a four-year project in September 2022 to build new second stage transitional housing across the country. With this funding, WSC increased its in-house development capacity to offer development services to underserved organizations that are interested in creating new second stage transitional housing. WSC is supporting violence against women (VAW) and anti-violence shelters – especially underserved shelters in rural, remote, and northern communities – to increase their capacity to better support survivors of domestic violence. Through this project, WSC will assist up to 16 second stage transitional housing new build projects over four years (2022-2026).
Second stage transitional housing is a form of transitional supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence who are at risk of danger post-separation and need additional time and support to heal from their trauma and rebuild their lives. Many are affiliated or connected to VAW emergency shelters/transition houses and were created out of an identified need for safe and affordable longer-term housing with accompanying provisions for survivors. They offer wrap-around support and afford survivors additional time and space to heal, develop independence, establish long-term goals, build community and networks of support, access programming, and transition to a life free from violence (See Breaking the Cycle of Abuse and Closing the Housing Gap: Second Stage Shelters in Canada for more information about second stage shelters).
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT WSC IS OFFERING INCLUDE FOUR KEY AREAS:
Knowledge and coaching
- Answering questions via email and phone
- Setting up regular meetings to discuss progress
Conducting feasibility studies for projects in early stages
- Creating a vision for the project
- Creating an organizational Project Charter / Mapping
- Coordinating the development team
- Creating a development schedule
- Conducting preliminary proforma and financial analysis
Assistance with grant applications
- Coordinating the design team on items like early concept drawings and costing the project
- Submitting all required information into the applicable portal (e.g. CMHC)
Project management services (as a third-party consultant) for projects successfully funded
- Procuring additional consultants
- Updating and monitoring the project schedule
- Updating the financial analysis
- Finalizing funding and financing agreements
- Performing cost monitoring and tracking
- Coordinating monthly funding requests to the funder on behalf of the shelter
WSC anticipates that the Second Stage Transitional Housing (SSTH) project will be in high demand from women’s shelters across the country. It is likely that the WSC team will not have the capacity to assist every group that requests services. An application process has been developed with an equity framework in mind and in accordance with our internal capacity. WSC reserves the right to choose which organizations it assists based on timelines of all projects and capacity of the WSC team.
If you have a project that you’re interested in discussing with the WSC team, please contact Kyla Tanner at ktanner@endvaw.ca.
If your project is in the provinces of British Columbia or Quebec, we ask that you reach out to the following organizations to discuss your project and needs.
In British Columbia, the BC Housing Women’s Transition Housing Fund Program.
In Quebec, the Alliance of Second Stage Shelters for Women and Children Victims of Domestic Violence (Alliance MH2).
