Photo Courtesy Peace River Regional Women's Shelter social media

By Curtis Galbraith

Women's Shelters

Grimshaw council agrees to help Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter, NDP says shelters need more funding

Jan 17, 2024 | 8:00 AM

The town of Grimshaw council has approved $2,500 to help the Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter deal with a black mould issue.

The shelter has been closed since the mould was discovered late last year.

Grimshaw council also says it will talk to the province about emergency funding for the shelter.

NDP Status of Women Critic Julie Hayter says in a statement that this may be “the tip of the iceberg” because the government has been neglecting shelters.

The entire statement appears below.

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“It is truly heartbreaking to hear that the women’s shelter in Peace River has had to turn away adults and children trying to escape domestic violence since late November because of the discovery of mould in the building.

“The UCP’s refusal to adequately fund these shelters is causing real harm to Albertans.

“We know that aging shelters are an issue across the province and I fear that what has happened in Peace River is just the tip of the iceberg following years of neglect and lack of support by this UCP government.

“Sadly, the need for shelters is ever increasing with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters recently reporting the highest number of calls for help in a decade and instances where lack of space has meant turning people away has gone up 32 per cent.

The UCP offered only 25 per cent of what shelters need to function properly and that’s shameful. The ACWS has asked for $10 million a year to ensure Albertans trying to escape domestic violence have a safe, welcoming space to go to.

“Shelters across the province need sufficient funding to stabilize the sector and it is absolutely insulting for this government to expect them to be able to operate on 2014 funding levels in 2024. Shelters need stable funding that will ensure they can absorb the impact of inflation and the high cost of living and never have to turn away anyone seeking help.

“The UCP government must respond immediately to the calls for help from our women’s shelters and fund them properly.”