Province announces $3.8 million to help address intimate partner violence

The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $3.8 million into several different organizations in an effort to address intimate partner violence.

The money will go toward 16 agencies over two years under the National Action Plan to end Gender-based violence.

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“It’s it’s such an important initiative to be able to support,” said Alana Ross, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for the status of women.

Ross said the money will be aimed at prevention, interventions and education.

It will also be used to increase capacity at transition homes and second-stage housing facilities.

“Prevention is very important, and a lot of whatever prevention does is teach our children what gender-based violence is,” Ross said.

“If we start with prevention, it’s like any other form of care. The more we can prevent, the fewer instances we have of gender-based violence.”

The Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services (PATHS) will receive $42,000 in funding as part of the plan.

Executive director Jo-Anne Dusel said the association will use the money to develop a common assessment tool to help identify risks and the level of risk of intimate partner violence.

She said the organization has begun to consult with stakeholders from different sectors as it works to establish the assessment tool. Dusel said the assessments will make seeking help easier, whether a person wants to seek assistance through social services, law enforcement or other agencies.

“Everyone is speaking the same language and knows what resources are available in the province and can navigate that individual through the system, so that they can get the best possible resources as soon as possible to increase their safety,” she said.

Dusel said PATHS is hoping for additional benefits, like improving relationships and communication to help prevent violence from occurring.

Justice Minister Tim McLeod said the province is dedicating a total of $31.7 million to community partners that address intimate partner violence this year.

McLeod called it a multi-faceted issue.

“These are very complex social issues that we’re addressing, so things like mental health and addictions and the investments that we make in that space are all aimed at the prevention of gender-based violence,” he said.

The Government of Canada is providing $539.3 million over four years in cost-sharing deals with provinces and territories under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

The organizations receiving funding include:

• Natural Supports Program ($635,000): Saskatchewan Towards Offering Partnership Solutions to Violence;
• Enhanced Early Intervention Supports ($1,100,000): Collaboration between Family Service Regina Inc. and Family Service Saskatoon;
• Healthy Relationships Program ($513,000): The John Howard Society;
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Awareness and Prevention ($485,000): Praxis Consulting Inc.;
• Common Intimate Partner Violence Assessment Tool ($300,000): Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan Inc. (PATHS);
• Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit ($297,000): Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre (EGADZ).
• Second Stage Housing Capacity ($215,000):
• Lloydminster Interval Home Society Inc. ($40,000);
• Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women Inc. ($40,000);
• Sofia House Inc. ($40,000);
• YWCA Regina Inc. ($38,855);
• YWCA Saskatoon Inc. ($36,000); and
• Saskatoon Interval House Inc. ($20,000).
• Transition Home Capacity ($214,000):
• Lloydminster Interval Home Society ($40,000);
• Regina Transition House ($40,000);
• YWCA Regina Inc. ($39,644);
• YWCA Prince Albert Inc. ($39,000);
• Moose Jaw Women’s Transition Association Inc. ($35,000);
• Saskatoon Interval House Inc. ($20,000); and
• Safe and Together Training ($42,000): PATHS.