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June 26, 2008
Government increases support for women's emergency shelters
Edmonton... The Alberta government has invested $1.76 million to fund 79 more beds in women’s emergency shelters across the province. The additional beds will increase shelter capacity by 15 per cent and will provide more options for people who are experiencing family violence.
“Women’s shelters do an incredible job of supporting victims of family violence as they rebuild their lives. This funding will help women’s shelters provide critical support to victims when they need it most,” said Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children and Youth Services.
Alberta Children and Youth Services consulted with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) on the process for allocating the new beds. Individual shelters were also consulted to ensure shelters with the highest occupancy rates received the funding. The funding will be effective immediately and will be retroactive to April 1, 2008.
“We asked the province to fund unfunded capacity within the shelter system. It makes sense to fund beds that are already there,” says Joie Dery, President of ACWS. “The announcement to fund additional beds makes wise use of existing shelter capacity. Shelter beds were available but not funded and emergency shelters were struggling to provide full services to women and children in need of their care. The additional dollars to cover staffing costs and supports will be most welcome.”
In addition to this investment, a further 5 per cent was provided for staff salaries and benefits as part of Budget 2008 to support women’s emergency shelters contracted by the government. Over the past three years, funding to women’s emergency shelters has increased by $10 million, from $15 million in 2004-05 to more than $25 million in 2008-09. The Women’s Shelter Leadership Bursary was also established in 2007 to support the professional development of senior staff and training for front-line workers.The provincial government provides operational funding for 29 women’s emergency shelters, programming in two second-stage housing projects as well as fee-for-service agreements with three First Nations women’s emergency shelters. With the support for 79 additional beds, the provincial government now provides funding for 617 beds in women’s emergency shelters across the province. Women’s emergency shelters offer a safe place for women to stay, but they also offer other services such as counselling, outreach services, parenting programs, children’s groups and community referrals.
Nine ministries are working together to ensure Albertans are safe in their own homes and communities and in total will spend more than $59 million to support the prevention of family violence and bullying in 2008-09. The increase in emergency shelter beds addresses Premier Ed Stelmach’s mandate to promote strong and vibrant communities by improving access to programs for Albertans affected by family violence.
Attachment: Listing of shelter bed locations
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Angelle Sasseville
Communications
Alberta Children and Youth Services
780-427-4801
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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Seventy-nine more women’s emergency shelter beds funded across the province
Shelter Name |
Location |
Funded Bed |
Awo Taan Native Women's Shelter Society |
Calgary |
4 |
Brigantia Place |
Camrose |
2 |
Brooks and District Women's Safe Shelter Society |
Brooks |
0* |
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter Association |
Calgary |
5 |
Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter Society (The) |
Red Deer |
6 |
Community Crisis Society - Region 5 |
Strathmore |
3 |
Edmonton Women's Shelter Ltd. (WIN I) |
Edmonton |
5 |
Edmonton Women's Shelter Ltd. (WIN II) |
Edmonton |
5 |
Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society |
Fort McMurray |
9 |
Grande Prairie Women's Residence Association |
Grande Prairie |
8 |
Hope Haven Society |
Lac La Biche |
1 |
Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society |
Medicine Hat |
6 |
Mountain Rose Women's Shelter Association |
Rocky Mtn House |
0* |
Peace River Regional Women's Shelter Society |
Peace River |
3 |
Pincher Creek Women's Emergency Shelter Association |
Pincher Creek |
5 |
Safe Haven Women's Shelter |
Taber |
5 |
St. Paul and District Crisis Association |
St. Paul |
6 |
Strathcona Shelter Society Ltd. |
Sherwood Park |
3 |
YWCA Calgary |
Calgary |
3 |
TOTAL |
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79 |
*will receive additional funding to staff operations on a 24-hour basis.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Angelle Sasseville
Communications
Alberta Children and Youth Services
780-427-4801
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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