McGuinty Government Helps Provide A New Home For Women Fleeing Violence
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis will soon be moving their counselling and support services to a new home.
Ontario is giving the local women's organization $802,000 to move to a larger and more accessible building. The new building will allow the agency to:
- serve more women, especially women with disabilities or women whose children have a disability, and
- increase support services, such as access to temporary housing and counselling.
The funds are part of a $7.4-million provincial investment in community groups that help victims of domestic abuse. These investments will help local organizations serve more women and children while improving the accessibility, safety and security of their properties.
QUOTES
"It's so important for women who are escaping abuse to have a safe place to go for help," said Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur. "That's a time when they should be focusing on themselves and their children – not on whether they can get into the building because they have a wheelchair."
"The services and supports we provide offer women safe options and an opportunity to begin to rebuild their lives," said Executive Director of Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis Sly Castaldi. "Having a new building means we increase accessibility and resources for women who come to our doors."
"Guelph - Wellington Women in Crisis has a long record of providing exemplary service to women who are fleeing domestic abuse," said Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph. "I am pleased that this grant will enable Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis to move to a larger site and expand their support services to women who are victims of domestic violence."
QUICK FACTS
- In 2006/2007, more than 14,000 women and children fleeing domestic abuse used emergency shelters, staying an average of 21.3 days.
- It is estimated that women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times as likely to be abused as non-disabled women, depending on whether they live in the community or in institutions.
LEARN MORE
Find out about Ontario's Domestic Violence Action Plan.
Find out about the services and programs offered by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.
Learn about what Ontario is doing to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.