Sask. investing $3.8M to ‘end gender-based violence’

Saskatchewan legislature

The provincial government said it will be investing $3.8 million over the next two years through a national action plan to end gender-based violence in Saskatchewan.

A total of 16 agencies around the province will receive money through the federal National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

Under that plan, the federal government is providing a total of $539.3 million over four years in cost-sharing agreements with the provinces and territories.

In a news release, the province says it’s $3.8 million investment will “provide for enhanced programs, supports and tools in Saskatchewan communities.”

“Saskatchewan’s implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is focused on prevention, awareness, and building supports for survivors and their loved ones,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Alana Ross said in a news release.

Of the $3.8 million, the province says that $1.1 million will be provided to Family Service Regina Inc. and Family Service Saskatoon for enhanced early intervention supports.

Saskatchewan Toward Offering Partnership Solutions to Violence (STOP) will get $635,000 for the natural supports program.

• Saskatchewan domestic violence report analyzes 31 deaths, makes 6 recommendations

In the release, the province further divvied up the funding among the organizations across Saskatchewan:

• 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)
• 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)
• Safe and Together Training ($42,000): PATHS.

“I am grateful to all our partner organizations for collaborating with us on this, and the work they do across Saskatchewan to address and prevent gender-based violence,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said in the release.

McLeod said the ongoing work with under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence strongly aligns with the recommendations that were included in the recently released Domestic Violence Death Review.

-More to come…