PICKERING – The Ontario government is expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures program to 10 additional locations across the province, including the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham. This will help more women who are experiencing social and economic barriers connect to supports and develop the skills they need to gain financial security and independence. This expansion is part of a $6.9 million investment over three years to enhance the program and create more economic opportunities for women.
“Expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures program to Durham Region will provide more women with the counselling, employment readiness training, and other wraparound supports they need to rebuild their lives, increase their participation in the workforce, and gain financial independence,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “Our government is empowering women to achieve the success they deserve because when women succeed, Ontario succeeds.”
This morning, I announced our investment of $325,000 over 3 years in @WMRCCofDurham to host the Investing in Women’s Futures program.
Thank you to my colleagues @PBethlenfalvy , @MPPBarnesAjax , and @lornecoe for their tireless advocacy and support for women in their communities. pic.twitter.com/oilhGGcM6O— Charmaine Williams (@Charmomof5) May 26, 2023
The Investing in Women’s Futures program provides a range of flexible services and employment readiness supports for women facing social and economic barriers, including those experiencing gender-based violence and social isolation. These services and supports help women overcome any barriers, increase well-being, build skills and gain employment. The addition of 10 new sites brings the total number of service delivery locations to 33, providing greater access for more women across Ontario.
In Durham Region, the Investing in Women’s Futures program will be delivered by the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham through an investment of $325,000 over three years. The organization will deliver trauma-informed counselling to vulnerable and underserved women with lived experiences of violence and abuse. The program will assist with housing, mental health, addictions, safety planning, legal issues, systems navigation, and challenges facing newcomers. It will also provide workshops on empowerment and self-esteem building as well as training in technology, interview skills, and workplace culture and negotiations.
“The Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham appreciates the financial support from the Office of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity for the delivery of the Investing in Women’s Futures program,” said Esther Enyolu, Executive Director, Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham. “This will enable the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham to continue to empower newcomers and women from diverse backgrounds experiencing social and economic barriers to connect to social support services and programs that empower them to acquire skills to heal, prevent further violence, and work towards financial independence to support their families.”
This $6.9 million investment builds on the $18 million funding from 2022-2025 to support the Investing in Women’s Futures and Women’s Economic Security programs.
Quick Facts
- As a result of COVID-19, women and gender-diverse Ontarians have faced additional challenges, such as increased economic insecurity, greater burden of caregiving responsibilities and a rise in the incidence of domestic violence. Young women, mothers of young children, racialized women, single mothers, Indigenous women, immigrant women, women with disabilities and women without university degrees have been most affected.
- In June 2021, the government launched Ontario’s Task Force on Women and the Economy to provide advice on addressing the unique and disproportionate economic barriers women face. Building on the work of the task force, the government is taking action to address the challenges women face in the workforce.
- In 2021-22, the Investing in Women’s Futures program helped more than 1,300 women across Ontario secure employment, start their own businesses or pursue further training and/or education.
Quotes
“This new Investing in Women’s Futures program location will give more women access to a safe space and a continuum of wraparound supports and resources. This funding will allow the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham to continue the great work they have already done in the community and support them in fostering more prosperous futures for women across the Region.”
– Peter Bethlenfalvy
MPP for Pickering—Uxbridge
“The services and support provided by the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham to women, youth and children strengthen Whitby and other parts of Durham Region. This investment allows the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham to continue working towards their mission of providing specialized counselling to women from diverse backgrounds, supporting them to rebuild their lives, and enabling them to reach their full potential at home, at work, and in our communities.”
– Lorne Coe
MPP for Whitby
“I am proud of the work that our government is doing to support local organizations like the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham so that they can in turn support and uplift women in our communities. I thank Esther Enyolu and her incredible staff for their tireless efforts to help women facing adversity find the safety, healing, and training they need to create brighter futures for themselves and their families.”
– Patrice Barnes
MPP for Ajax
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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