More money for shelters

The province has boosted funding to protect Nipissing area women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Local shelters have received a total increase of almost $60,000 for their budgets.

Further details are included in the following news release issued this morning by Nipissing MPP Monique Smith:
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The McGuinty government is supporting services to women and their children fleeing domestic violence in Nipissing by investing an additional $59,651 in Nipissing First Nation – Ojibway Family Resource Centre, Mattawa Women’s Resource Centre, Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing, Crisis Centre North Bay and Nipissing Transition House Inc. this year, Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing announced today.

Agencies of this kind across the province that provide vital supports for women and children in crisis will receive an additional $3 million this year in total, strengthening one of the most important pillars of Ontario's domestic violence prevention system.

"Our government made an early commitment to do more to fight domestic violence and to protect women and children fleeing abuse. We are delivering on that commitment,” said Smith.

In 2004/05, the government is providing more than $90 million to community agencies across the province that provide shelter and counselling services to women and children escaping violence in their homes. This $3 million increase in funding will be directed towards:
• approximately 100 emergency shelters;
• approximately 100 agencies that provide counselling for women and their children;
• agencies providing the transitional support program and early intervention program for child witnesses of woman abuse; and,
• community crisis lines.

“Helping women escape violence and rebuild their lives is the first step to helping them achieve self-sufficiency – something that we all want,” said Smith. “By helping women and children in Nipissing find lives free of violence, we are building a stronger, safer communities for us all.”