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Women’s resource centers will receive a $2 million boost from the Manitoba government to help prevent family violence, bringing the total budget to $4.1 million by 2023.
It is the first time funding for family violence prevention programs has increased since 2013 and the money will be distributed to nine different agencies across the region.
“Gender-based violence is a pervasive and complex issue that affects the emotional, physical, social, and economic health of survivors and their families,” Family Minister Rochelle Squires said in the release. a news release announcing the funding on Wednesday, which is International Women’s Day. .
“These institutions provide services in the environment that are important that support each woman who has experienced gender-based violence to heal, gain freedom and break the violence violence.”
Manitoba has the second-highest provincial rate of police-reported family violence in the country, according to a Statistics Canada report from 2019. Saskatchewan has the highest rate.
The funding will provide operational costs and programming to help survivors of gender-based violence at centers such as Winnipeg’s North End Women’s Centre.
“We are very grateful for the increase in funding to support women and gender diverse people,” Cynthia Drebot, executive director of the North End Women’s Center, told the CBC in an email.
Drebot believes that this increase “will work to ensure that we are able to provide support and resources for healing.”
The Interlake Women’s Resource Center in Gimli will also receive funding.
“The need for counseling services continues to increase and this funding will help increase staff capacity so we can provide support to more women and children,” said Jennifer Campbell Moore, director and women’s counselor, Home- Interlake Women’s Resource Service said.
The fundraiser will go to the following organizations in Winnipeg: Fort Garry Women’s Resource Center; North End Women’s Center; Pluri-elles (Manitoba); and West Central Women’s Resource Center. Will also attend: Interlake Women’s Resource Center Inc., in Gimli; Lakeshore Family Resource Center, in Ashern; Swan Valley Blood Centre, in Swan River; Western Manitoba Women’s Community Resource Centre, in Brandon; and Women’s Safe Haven/Resource Services, in Flin Flon.
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