Province steps in to fund women’s centre

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This article was published 23/03/2022 (1303 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An eight-bed housing program for women recovering from substance use, violence or mental-health trauma is set to receive more than $400,000 in provincial funding.

The North End Women’s Centre had relied on the federal government to fund its transitional housing program, but that funding is ending, so the province stepped in, Families Minister Rochelle Squires stated in a news release Wednesday.

The program also offers counselling, cultural support and referrals for women and gender-diverse people, particularly those who have experienced homelessness, exploitation or gender-based violence.

“Our government remains committed to working with agencies and community partners to prevent and address the complex issues of homelessness, substance use, mental health and family violence,” Squires stated. “…We recognized that our support was necessary to keep this important program in place to help its participants along their journeys to recovery.”

Cynthia Drebot, the centre’s executive director, stated the pandemic has had a disproportionately negative effect on their clients.

“Supportive transitional housing directly in the community provides an opportunity for people to work towards inter-generational healing, build a sense of community and increase their support system,” Drebot stated. “Participants work toward ongoing healing for themselves, their families and in turn, the community.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca