Second stage shelters: Saskatchewan provides funding

Second stage shelters: Saskatchewan provides funding

In a statement, Women‘s Shelters Canada said it‘s grateful for the commitment to second–stage shelters and operational funding.

“This investment in second stage shelters and operational funding is an important step towards building a more equitable and safe Saskatchewan. This increase in funding will enable second–stage shelters to provide services that are critical to the safety, well–being, and empowerment of survivors and their children,” the statement said.

With the announcement of operational funding to second stage shelters in Saskatchewan, the long standing wish of those operating shelters appears to be granted after years of trying. Saskatchewan Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre announced the news during question period Wednesday, making clear that additional funding for these shelters will be a part of the province’s upcoming budget. Currently, Saskatchewan is among few provinces that don’t provide operational funding for second stage shelters, which offer long–term housing and programming for women and children trying to escape abusive situations.

Eyre didn’t go into specifics about who will receive funding, or how much the province will spend, but indicated the money will allow shelters to operate more beds and free up resources for important programming. Saskatchewan continues to have some of the worst rates of domestic violence of any region in Canada according to a 2021 Statistics Canada release. The province had the highest rate of intimate partner violence of any Canadian province at a rate of 724 victims per 100,000 residents. The national average was 344.

Second stage shelters in Saskatchewan

Second stage shelters in Saskatchewan include Sapohtewin House in La Ronge; the Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women, Adelle House and Turning Points in Saskatoon; North East Outreach 2nd Stage Housing in Melfort and SOFIA House and Wichihik Iskwewak Safe House in Regina. These shelters will often house their clients for as long as two years. A 2020 study conducted by Women’s Shelters Canada concluded that second stage shelters reduce the risk of future abuse, trauma and femicide. It recommends sustainable, core operational funding for all second stage shelters, pointing out that they are a unique form of transitional housing that provide wraparound supports including expertise in gender–based violence, survivor–centered programming, counselling, housing–related support and safety planning.

Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer welcomed the shelter funding news and pointed out that her party has been calling for it for years. “I’ve been here for seven years, and we’ve been calling for this for at least six,” Sarauer said. “We do want to see this as sustainable, multi year funding, and we want to ensure that those providing this service are directly consulted on how this is rolled out.”

Eyre indicated that the funding levels will develop over the coming years according to outcomes. “We want to make sure that the commitment is there, that it is a commitment going forward and we’ll look how established we can make second stage with our partners over the next year and then whether we expand from there and where we go form there,” she said.

Second stage shelter budget

In its 2022–23 budget, the Saskatchewan government committed $24.9 million in interpersonal violence supports to programs such as $1.1 million in programming for children exposed to violence, $650,000 for early outreach and support for those experiencing family violence through the Family Intervention Rapid Support Teams (FIRST), $8.7 million for shelter services for women and children leaving situations of violence, $1.7 million in services for those that experience sexual violence, and $1.9 million for intervention and support services, including counselling, for those that experience intimate partner violence.

Women‘s Shelters Canada released a statement expressing their gratitude for the commitment to second–stage shelters and operational funding. “This increase in funding will enable second–stage shelters to provide services that are critical to the safety, well–being, and empowerment of survivors and their children,” the statement said.