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Odyssey House applauds Safer Space certificates program

Feb 9, 2018 | 5:21 AM

There’s now grant money available for landlords in the fight against family violence.  In August 2016, the Alberta government announced funding that would allow people in violent living situations to end their leases without penalty. 

And now there’s $50,000 for landlords, something Executive Director of Odyssey House in Grande Prairie, Ebony Rempel applauds.

“Specifically, in the community of Grande Prairie, I really hope that we can continue to build these relationships so that landlords potentially too could see some of these warning signs around violence and what that might look like and be able to have resources too… I know landlords don’t want to penalize people if they’re experiencing violence,” she said.

The government announced a $50,000 Status of Women grant that it says will train landlords and property managers to recognize signs of family violence.  It will also give them tools to help their tenants.

“This little piece I think really enables us to support women in a greater capacity than we would be able to otherwise,” said Rempel.  “The more we can support women in this kind of capacity, with housing and finances, the better work we can do.”

Since starting the Safer Spaces certificates program in August 2016, the Alberta government has issued 379 certificates, helping victims of family violence leave their unsafe homes – 12 of those were in Grande Prairie.