Women fleeing violence in the north are going to be seeing some more support.
Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, and the Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society celebrated a provincial commitment to create a new housing development with 18 transition house beds, 16 units of second-stage housing and 21 townhouses for permanent affordable housing for women and their children who are leaving violent relationships.
“All too often, women are faced with barriers such as poverty and homelessness in their journey to find their way to a safe life with their children,” said Kathi Heim, executive director, Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society and Housing Society.
She said it’s going to be a big improvement on what the society has currently.
“Right now we have a very old and tired transition house,” said Heim.
“Most transition and safe homes are in residential homes, and ours is no different. There are 17 beds and three washrooms – figure that one out.”
The project will be funded through the Building BC: Women’s Transition Fund, a $734-million investment over 10 years to build 1,500 transition housing, second-stage housing and long-term housing spaces for women and children leaving violence.
This first step of the fund will build 280 new homes through 12 projects in communities throughout the province.
“This provincial initiative will provide women and their children the full continuum of affordable housing supports where they can take the time to rebuild a safer life and future. We are proud to partner with the Government of B.C. and the City of Prince George to provide a stronger, more comprehensive response to the needs of women and their children leaving domestic violence and abuse,” said Heim.
Other transition home projects approved in northern B.C. include Kitimat and Smithers.
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