PROVINCE ANNOUNCES NEW WOMEN'S TRANSITION HOUSE FUNDING

VICTORIA – Women and children will have improved access to 24/7 transition house services in B.C. as the result of a $12.5-million, or 33 per cent, increase in provincial government funding for programs and services for women and their children escaping violence, said Wendy McMahon, Minister of State for Women’s and Seniors’ Services.

“This is the largest funding increase for transition houses and other front-line services in over a decade,” said McMahon. “This means new and better programs and services to help protect the personal safety of women, help women cope with the effects of violence, and help break the cycle of violence. It means making our communities safer for women and children no matter who they are or where they live.”

Starting April 1, 2005, funding will increase from $33 million to $45.5 million annually. The new $12.5 million in funding includes:

$5.1 million to improve around-the-clock accessibility at transition houses, fund more beds at existing transition houses, and fund new safe home programs.
$2 million for new measures to address violence against women.
$2 million for expanded and enhanced Stopping the Violence, and Children Who Witness Abuse counselling programs.
$1.6 million to expand outreach and violence prevention initiatives across the province.
$700,000 for training of front-line workers.
$600,000 to expand front-line support for children staying in transition houses.
$500,000 to create a mentoring initiative for women who have never been in the workforce or who are re-entering the workforce after a long absence.

“We are improving services in a sustainable way so that women and children will always get the help they need when they need it in rural and urban British Columbia,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. “By expanding outreach services, we are increasing their ability to address the root causes of violence and to ensure that all British Columbians are aware that violence against women and children is not acceptable.”

“Our organization is enthusiastic about the impact that this budgetary allocation will have on the lives of women and children across the province,” said Karen Stone, executive director of the B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses. “This moves British Columbia one step closer towards the eradication of fear, and the realization and protection of the rights and dignity of all women.”

The additional funding is over and above the $33 million provided annually for transition houses, safe homes, second stage housing, Stopping the Violence counselling for women who have experienced abuse, and Children Who Witness Abuse counselling. In March 2004, the Province increased annual base funding of over one-third of the transition houses in B.C. and provided funding for security and safety improvements to transition house and safe home facilities.

Today’s announcement is part of the Province’s Safer Communities Initiative announced by the Premier last fall that includes new funding for RCMP officers, corrections and courts; a transfer of traffic fine revenue to municipalities; a $84-million federal-provincial-local partnership on homelessness; a Public Safety Task Force; more tools for police to combat harassment of seniors and other citizens on the street; and more funding for mental health and addiction treatment as a result of the federal-provincial health funding arrangement.

For more information on Stopping the Violence programs visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/mcaws online.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Marisa Adair Communications Director Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services 250 387-4089

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.