Province Investing in Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Ontario is supporting the rebuild of the North York Women’s Shelter, to replace the current aging building and allow the agency to provide better service for women and their children who have experienced domestic violence.
Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services, made the announcement in Toronto today with Michael Levitt, Member of Parliament for York Centre, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
North York Women’s Shelter has provided assistance to an average of 127 women and children each year over the past three years. The new shelter will provide women and children with multiple services under one roof. The larger facility will provide more private and quiet space, housing, counselling and administrative services as well as legal, mental health and harm reduction supports. In addition, the new shelter will have fully accessible rooms.
Investing in a new North York Women’s Shelter is part of the Ontario government’s goal of ending violence against women and providing better supports for survivors, and also builds on It’s Never Okay, the government’s plan to stop sexual violence and harassment.
Quick Facts
- The new North York Women`s Shelter will replace the existing building that has been serving women who are survivors of domestic violence and their children since 1984.
- Ontario will provide up to $3 million in funding for this project. The Federal government also contributed up to $5.8 million.
- Approximately 10,770 women and 6,920 children were served at Violence Against Women shelters in 2015-16.
- Sexual assault victimization rates are five times higher for women under the age of 35.
- Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province’s history. To learn more about what’s happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
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