Gender-based violence remains an ongoing problem in Alberta, and across Canada. One measure of this situation is that gender-based violence crisis hotlines in Alberta saw a 50 per cent or higher increase in the number of calls over the past year. Now more than ever, funding is needed to ensure that organizations in Alberta, and across the country, can support victims and survivors of gender-based violence and their families.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance and MP for Edmonton Centre, met with Shelter Movers Executive Director Marc Hull-Jacquin in Edmonton to announce $3 million for Shelter Movers' Prairies Scale Up project. The new project will establish chapters across the Prairies, beginning in Alberta.
Through this project, victims and survivors of gender-based violence in Alberta will have access to free survivor-centred assistance to safely move them, their children, pets and belongings out of violent households. Shelter Movers staff, volunteer movers and drivers are specially trained and vetted to work with people who have experienced violence. Shelter Movers will now be able to hire and train additional movers and drivers to meet the notable increase in demand for frontline service.
This funding enables promising practices that aim to strengthen the sector and improve supports for people impacted by gender-based violence.
