Funding helps women and children in rural and remote areas flee violence

BC Housing will receive $250,000 to help with transportation costs for women and children fleeing violence to gain access to the transition and safe houses in rural and remote areas of the province.

The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) will receive $350,000 to create and train more Interagency Case Assessment Teams (ICATs) in B.C., and to support existing ICATs with further training throughout the province. ICATs are made up of a team of front-line responders – usually with representation from police, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and community organizations – who work together to support victims in high-risk domestic violence cases.

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) will also receive $850,000 to deliver targeted programs and supports to Indigenous communities in B.C, including providing services for perpetrators of domestic violence, and dedicated community supports for women fleeing abusive relationships. This funding follows extensive consultation with Indigenous communities and organizations.

On top of this funding, the Province will invest $60,000 in a new partnership that will bring together EVA BC, BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH) and ministry partners to create new training materials for domestic violence front-line workers and encourage collaborative working relationships across the sector. Sessions will be held throughout the province, and will be delivered to staff at MCFD, as well as Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs).