For Immediate Release
November 1, 2004

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS HOUSING SUPPORTS FOR WOMEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN YORK WEST
$62,000 Annual Funding Increase Helps Abused Women Connect with Community Supports and Maintain Housing in the York West Riding

TORONTO - As part of its first steps in a long-term action plan to fight domestic violence, the McGuinty government is investing $62,000 annually in a transitional and housing support program that helps women and their children fleeing from domestic abuse in York West, Mario Sergio announced today.

"We are reaching out to better serve more women who are victims of domestic violence," said Mr. Sergio, M.P.P. "We are helping women connect with a network of community supports so they can find and maintain the housing they need to build a stable life for themselves and their children."

Under the Transitional and Housing Support Program, the government is investing an additional $3.5 million annually to help more than 70 women's shelters, second stage houses and community agencies that provide refuge and counselling for abused women and their children. This brings the government's total annual investment in these critical support services to $9.1 million.

The additional funding builds on the success of existing outreach services but is more flexible and accessible. The additional funding goes beyond serving women in shelters, providing supports to women with a diversity of needs - including those living in their own homes.

The new funding enhances existing supports that help women live their lives free from domestic violence by helping to find safe, secure housing, and by provides them with counselling and advocacy services, job training and income supports.

The government's long-term action plan to fight domestic violence, introduced by Premier McGuinty in April, also sets aside an additional $4.9 million for a four-year public education and awareness campaign to help communities break the cycle of violence and improve training for police officers, Crown attorneys and others working in the criminal justice system.

"Violence against women is unacceptable," said Mario Sergio, M.P.P. "When we help women and their children find lives free of violence, the whole community benefits."

For further information, please contact:

Mario Sergio, M.P.P.

York West

(416) 595-7007