Investment Will Help Abused Women, Keep Communities Safe And Strong

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is helping women’s agencies reach their full potential by investing in the skills and strengths of their organizations and their staff, Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today.

“We recognize the crucial role these agencies play, not only in helping abused women and children, but also in keeping our communities safe and strong. But few community agencies have resources to devote to their own development,” said Pupatello. “We know that good services start with good people and good organizations. The money we spend to strengthen these community agencies is an investment in women’s futures. We also listened to the community when they told us that it was important to support a broad range of capacity building activities.”

Women’s shelters and Transitional and Housing Support Program providers can apply for funding for a wide variety of activities to help build their financial, human resource and structural capabilities, such as:

Improving technology and information systems

Raising awareness and increasing the agency’s profile in the community

Improving staff and volunteer recruitment, management, retention and training

Strengthening financial management and attracting corporate sponsorship.

The $3.5 million investment is part of the government’s Domestic Violence Action Plan announced in December 2004. The action plan aims to strengthen domestic violence programs and services, and places an important new emphasis on prevention and better community supports for abused women and their children.

“Our government is committed to helping victims of domestic violence begin their lives independent from their abusers,” said Pupatello. “Strengthening these much-needed community programs and services is just one of the steps we’re taking to fulfil that commitment.”