Government of Canada Funding for 2 Halton Organizations that Provide Support & Services to Women Experiencing Gender-based Violence

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*Please see below a news release from the Government of Canada - Ministry for Women and Gender Equality.April 15, 2021 - For Immediate ReleaseHALTON REGION – The COVID-19 pandemic has hit women particularly hard, with many leaving the workforce to take on more unpaid work at home than ever before as they stepped up to care for kids and elders. Women also fill the majority of front-line roles in the fight against COVID. This leaves more women vulnerable to financial hardship, food and shelter insecurity and abuse.Women's organizations provide vital services supporting women and girls to be financially secure and free from gender-based violence so we must ensure these organizations have the resources their need to continue their essential work.Today, Halton Members of Parliament Pam Damoff, Hon. Anita Anand, Hon. Karina Gould and Adam van Koeverden, on behalf of Hon. Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced an investment of $35,000 in Halton Women’s Place (HWP) and over $90,000 in Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS), to help both organizations continue their invaluable work in the Halton region.HWP provides a safe haven, education, information and support to women and children experiencing domestic violence.  Services include, safe shelter, 24/7 crisis support lines, community outreach, public education and advocacy. SAVIS offers free, confidential 24/7, one-on-one crisis counselling services to survivors of violence, including childhood sexual abuse.  SAVIS responds to more than 600 crisis calls each year and supports 220 clients in its counselling program. It also offers anti-human trafficking support services, dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking.SAVIS and HWP are two of more than 250 women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women across Canada to receive funding under Women and Gender Equality Canada's Capacity-building Fund. This investment stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across the country.$15.7 million has been allocated to Women’s Shelters Canada, with $6.8 million to non-Indigenous shelters and $8.9 million to off-reserve Indigenous shelters. $20.6 million has been allocated to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, with $1 million going to sexual assault centres and $19.6 million to women’s organizations and other organizations offering significant gender-based violence supports and services to women. The funding is intended to help address the immediate needs of organizations that provide a range of gender-based violence supports and services, such as emergency helplines, crisis and resource centres, counselling support, crisis intervention, drop-in services and support groups.Since March 2020, the Government of Canada has distributed $50 million in funding to over 1000 shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing supports to women and children experiencing violence. As part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, $50 million was allocated to support organizations providing services to women and their families fleeing violence, $40 million of which was allocated by Women and Gender Equality Canada. Through the first phase of this funding, $30 million was directly delivered to nearly 700 women's shelters and organizations serving survivors of sexual assault. Through the second phase, the remaining $10 million is being distributed to other organizations that provide important services to those experiencing gender-based violence.Background:In June 2017, Women and Gender Equality Canada (formerly Status of Women Canada) announced the first-ever federal Strategy to Prevent and Address gender-based violence. To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 invested a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in Women and Gender Equality Canada's Women's Program. This means that in 2023–24, the Women's Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million.This funding will enable women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.Quotes:“COVID-19 has severely impacted the most vulnerable Canadians, including women and children facing gender-based violence. This emergency funding will help frontline organizations like SAVIS and Halton Women’s Place keep their doors open to support and validate survivors of violence and advocate for the rights and safety of all victims of violence.” – Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington“As we’ve asked Canadians to stay home to prevent the spread of Covid-19, we also recognize that home is not always a safe place. We’ve seen an increase in need for services to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The federal government continues to support survivors, frontline service providers and will continue to work towards an end to sexual and gender-based violence."- Hon. Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington“COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable individuals in our community. During this unprecedented time, women and children have experienced gender-based violence and often find themselves isolated from the resources they need. Our government is committed to supporting frontline organizations like Halton Women’s Place and SAVIS, so that they can continue to provide assistance to better address victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence.” -- Hon. Anita Anand, Member of Parliament for Oakville“COVID-19 has magnified issues of inequality throughout different communities, especially for women and those experiencing gender-based violence. Now, more than ever, these communities need our help. I am proud that our government has committed to support Halton Women's Place and Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS), two of our community’s most vital and supportive organizations.”– Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton“Emergencies and catastrophes impact the vulnerable populations more than anyone else, and there has been no better modern example than the COVID-19 Pandemic. For more than a year now, organizations such as Halton Women’s Place have had to go to new lengths to keep women and children safe from both their abusers and a deadly virus. This much needed federal support comes at a time when there is more demand, and less community funding certainty than ever. It is welcomed and appreciated.”- Laurie Hepburn, Executive Director, Halton Women’s Place“The Board of Directors and the staff of SAVIS are very appreciative of this support from the Government of Canada. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of gender-based violence and it is critically important that women have the supports and services they need.  This funding will help SAVIS continue to provide high-quality support to the women in our community.”- Sherry Parsley, Interim Executive Director, SAVIS of Halton -30-For more information, contact:Keri SchoonderwoerdCommunications Manager, Office of Pam Damoff, MPOakville North-Burlingtonkeri.schoonderwoerd.473@parl.gc.ca—PLEASE NOTE: To stay updated on what the City of Burlington is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit the dedicated pages burlington.ca/coronavirus (and subscribe) and bit.ly/mayormeedwardCOVID19updates, and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page — bit.ly/COVID19BurlingtonFAQ that are updated as new information becomes available.A consolidated page for information and updates on the work of the provincial Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force is available at bit.ly/COVIDVaccineUpdates.Halton Region has also created a dedicated COVID-19 Vaccine webpage at halton.ca/covidvaccines for up to date information on the status of our COVID19 vaccination program.A Burlington COVID-19 Task Force has been created to help support our community through this unprecedented emergency — updates will be provided at burlington.ca/COVID19taskforce.To report an incident of non-compliance with provincial emergency orders, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.We’ve also created a dedicated page to feature the local organizations and businesses that have inspired us during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking action to support our community in new and creative ways — head to bit.ly/covidwallofinspiration.HELPFUL RESOURCES & RELATED LINKS:

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist

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