Ontario Investing in New Supports to Address Gender-Based Violence

Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville to receive $227,607 to support new Intimate Partner Violence/Gender-Based Violence Rural Community Hub initiative

Lansdowne — The Ontario government is taking action to prevent and address gender-based violence and support survivors in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes by investing $227,607 over three years in Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville’s new Intimate Partner Violence/Gender-Based Violence Rural Community Hub initiative.

Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark made the announcement today with Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, and Cecilia Clapson, Executive Director of Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville.

“With this investment, we’re ensuring that Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville has the resources they need to support survivors in our community and to do their vital work of preventing gender-based violence,” said MPP Clark. “This funding is particularly important in rural communities where victims can feel even more isolated and disconnected from the services and supports they require. I’m proud our government recognizes the need to address this issue by supporting this initiative, and I applaud Victim Services and their partners on an outstanding collaboration.”

“By strengthening community-based services and improving economic security for survivors, our government is continuing to help prevent violence and support survivors so they can heal, rebuild their lives, and achieve financial stability for themselves and their families,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “I look forward to seeing how these new projects and their innovative approaches will help address gender-based violence in communities across Ontario.”

“Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville is thrilled to have received funding under Ontario’s Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence. We are launching a new two-year project that focuses on education, prevention, and partnership to address Gender-Based Violence/Intimate Partner Violence,” said Clapson. “This Mobile Community Hub model will work in close collaboration with our Police Services and Family and Children Services partners, with a goal of early intervention for non-Criminal Code IPV cases.”

A Victim Services Family Support Worker will support individuals and families who are struggling, where those struggles are impacting their relationships.

Clapson said the aim is to provide support, resources, and tools with the goal of decreasing the risk of these situations escalating. This project is fully mobile and will see the Family Support Worker supporting individuals and families in their homes and/or within the community, bringing supports and services directly to them rather than having them attend an office to access services.

“We recognize that this is particularly important in rural communities where there is limited access to transportation, which is a significant barrier to people gaining the important supports that they require. We look forward to working with our community to address the very real issue of Gender Based/Intimate Partner Violence,” said Clapson.

“Our government is continuing to take action to end gender-based violence in all its forms,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “I’m proud that Ontario is funding new and innovative projects across the province that will prevent gender-based violence before it occurs. These projects tackle the root causes and are critical to breaking the cycle of abuse. Together with community partners, we are supporting local solutions and building safer and healthier communities for generations to come.”

This investment is part of Ontario’s actions to better respond to violence, build safer and healthier communities, and support women’s well-being and economic opportunities through Ontario’s action plan to end gender-based violence.

Quick facts

• Ontario is investing approximately $98 million in up to 83 new initiatives across the province that will focus on building safer communities, stopping gender-based violence before it happens, and helping survivors to recover and rebuild their lives. The ministry is currently working to confirm project details and funding agreements with the organizations that will deliver the new initiatives.
• This funding builds on Ontario’s existing investments of $1.4 billion over four years in community support programs that prevent gender-based violence and support survivors. The investment is part of Ontario’s $162 million agreement with the federal government to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Additional Resources

• Ontario’s action plan to end gender-based violence
• Get help if you are experiencing violence