(Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

$10 Million Over 4 Years

Province aiming to build safer spaces for families across Alberta

Sep 10, 2025 | 1:16 PM

The Alberta government says it is keeping its promise to increase funding for women’s shelters by $10 million over four years.

Every year, the province says women’s shelters across Alberta support thousands of children and families by providing critical services such as emergency accommodations, safety planning, culturally responsive supports and connections to other resources. Alberta’s government says it is committed to ensuring that children and families fleeing violence have a safe place to turn for the services and supports they need.

To support the important work of women’s shelters throughout the province, government officials say they are delivering on their promise to increase funding for women’s shelters by $10 million over four years. This is said to include a $3-million investment to women’s shelters across Alberta in 2024-25. Through that funding, officials say all women’s shelters currently funded by the government received a one-time payment of 3.5 per cent of current operational funding. In addition, YW Calgary, YWCA Banff and Wellspring Family Resource & Crisis Centre received funding to maintain increased capacity to meet demand in the communities they serve, note government officials.

“Women’s shelters provide safety, comfort and hope to Albertans escaping violence,” says Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services. “Alberta’s government is proud to stand with these shelters and the vital work they do every day to protect vulnerable children and families. Through this funding, we are continuing to ensure that they can access the support they need, no matter where they live.”

Government officials say this investment builds on $5 million that was distributed in 2023-24 to support services already in place. To date, officials point out, $8 million has been invested to strengthen women’s shelter resources in both urban and rural areas across Alberta, including Edmonton, Camrose, Brooks, Fairview, Grande Prairie, Rocky Mountain House, Cold Lake, St. Paul, Fort McMurray, Morinville and High River.

To help meet the evolving needs of families and individuals affected by family violence, Alberta’s government says it has been engaging with women’s shelter and family violence agency partners to reimagine service delivery to better meet the evolving needs of families and individuals affected by family violence.This initiative is expected to inform future government investment and funding decisions.

“Women’s shelters are not just emergency spaces – they are a lifeline, a right and a critical part of Alberta’s social safety net,” explains Cat Champagne, executive director, Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. “This investment is a welcome step that helps ensure families fleeing violence can find safety and support when they need it most.”

The government says this investment is another step in helping to ensure Alberta is the safest place to live, work and raise a family. Officials say it builds on the recent release of Building on our Strengths, Alberta’s 10-Year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, which outlines how the Government of Alberta will work to prevent gender-based violence, support those impacted and ensure those committing these crimes are held to account.

“For many survivors, women’s shelters are the first step toward safety and healing,” shares Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. “This investment ensures Alberta’s 10-Year Strategy continues to provide survivors of family violence with support when and where they need it.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, you are not alone. You can call or text the Family Violence Info Line 24-7 at 310-1818, go online to alberta.ca/safetychat or visit your local women’s shelter for support.

Alberta government quick facts

• More information about supports for anyone experiencing family violence is available at https://www.alberta.ca/family-violence-find-supports.
• Budget 2025 invests more than $60 million for women’s shelters to help individuals and families receive the support they need, an increase of more than $3 million for this year.
• Alberta’s government invests more than $188 million annually in programs and services designed to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including more than $88 million for the prevention of family and sexual violence.