According to a July 28 news release, the province’s government is investing $9.2 million into various services supporting victims of gender-based violence. The funding is “to improve the quality and accessibility of services around the province as demand continues to grow,” states the release.
Investments include:
- $4.6 million for the province’s transition house program, which offers emergency shelter to women fleeing violence.
- $1.5 million for “the second-stage housing program,” providing longer-term safe housing to impacted women.
- $2.1 million for the gender-based outreach program, an initiative delivering prevention, education and support services to victims.
- $800,000 toward improved access to community-based sexual violence services.
Lyne Chantal Boudreau, New Brunswick’s minister responsible for women’s equality, spoke of a “common purpose” and of being “collectively committed.”
“Our goal is to create an environment where every individual can access the support they need to thrive; to be an active, healthy participant in this world,” said Boudreau in a statement. “This investment reflects our commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening our response to gender-based violence across the province.”
Boudreau noted that the funding is not only for victims, but also for those tasked with helping them.
“These services are delivered by staff who are regularly exposed to trauma and who carry the weight of that work every day. This funding recognizes the value of their expertise, care and resilience, and the importance of ensuring reasonable wages and organizational support.”
The release notes the funding will help with organizations’ operational costs, such as rent, utilities, maintenance and training, and will also go toward materials for “essential client needs” — toiletries, clothing and food, for example.
In late 2023, New Brunswick joined the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence — a 10-year collaborative initiative where Ottawa gives money to participating provinces and territories to help them implement the action plan in their respective jurisdictions.
In exchange for signing onto the plan, New Brunswick is receiving $16.3 million over four years to help in implementing the plan in that province.
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