McGuinty Government Invests In Safe Haven For Women

Minister Madeleine Meilleur breaks ground on a new 40-bed shelter for Hamilton women escaping abuse.

From left to right:

Kristene Vilijasco; Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP; Katherine Kalinowski, Good Shepherd Centres;  Minister of Government and Consumer Services Ted McMeekin; Brother Richard MacPhee; Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur; Mayor Fred Eisenberger; Bishop Gerard Bergie; Brother Justin Howson; Terence Whelan, Good Shepherd Centres
(photograph courtesy of David Gruggen Photography)

A new 40-bed shelter will mean hope and safety for Hamilton women escaping abuse.

Ontario is giving Good Shepherd Centres $5 million to build a shelter that will also be much more accessible for women and their children with disabilities.

The new shelter will be designed to serve women and children with all types of abilities. It will be part of a larger complex – to be named Good Shepherd Square – that will include housing and wellness programs for homeless women, seniors and people with a variety of special needs.

The funds are part of a $7.4-million provincial investment in community groups serving women who are victims of domestic abuse. These investments will help local organizations assist more women while improving the accessibility, safety and security of their properties.

QUOTES

"It's so important for women who are escaping abuse to have a safe place to go for help," said Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur. "That's a time when they should be focusing on themselves and their children – not on worrying about whether they can get into the building if they are in a wheelchair."

"This new shelter is truly a blessing for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and will give them hope to rebuild their lives in a loving and caring environment," said Brother Richard MacPhee, Executive Director of Good Shepherd Centres. "Good Shepherd has faith in people and this development will assist women and children to restore faith in themselves."

QUICK FACTS

• In 2006/2007, more than 14,000 women and children fleeing domestic abuse used emergency shelters, staying an average of 21.3 days.
  
• Women with disabilities are more likely to be abused than non-disabled women.

LEARN MORE

Find out more about Ontario's Domestic Violence Action Plan.

Find out about the services and programs offered by Good Shepherd Centres.

Learn about what Ontario is doing to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.