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SFN receives funding for transition housing to help women and children

Oct 25, 2018 | 12:51 PM

NANAIMO — Indigenous women and children fleeing violence will have a safe space to rest and try to put their lives back on track.

The Snuneymuxw Youth and Family Society will operate 10 transition house beds to serve primarily Indigenous women and children. They’re joined by 11 other organizations across B.C. receiving funding from the province, announced on Thursday.

“Fleeing violence often results in poverty and homelessness for women and their children if they can’t access safe, secure housing,” BC Society of Transition Houses executive director Joanne Baker said. “The reality or risk of homelessness frequently results in women returning to violence.”

Parliamentary secretary for gender equity Mitzi Dean said everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.

“Ensuring survivors have a safe place to go to rebuild their lives is an essential fire step to creating safer, more supportive communities and ending gender-based violence,” Dean said.

Transition houses are staffed 24/7 and anticipate housing women and children for roughly 30 days. The beds offered by Snuneymuxw Youth and Family Society will focus specifically on culturally appropriate supports to help Indigenous women.

A call to the Society wasn’t returned by deadline.

Twenty-units of second-stage housing was also announced for Port Alberni. 

 

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