Advocating for a broad mandate of safety for Manitoba’s Family Violence Shelters

In May 2019, Women’s Shelters Canada reported that over one-third (37%) of women’s shelters served women escaping forms of violence and abuse in addition to those from intimate partners.

Mandates were broadening out of concern that there were no other places to find help. (see the More Than a Bed report: https://endvaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/More-Than-a-Bed-Final-Report.pdf )

In June 2019, the MMIWG Calls to Justice called upon all governments to support the establishment and long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second stage housing, and services for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people who are homeless, near homeless, dealing with food insecurity, or in poverty, and who are fleeing violence or have been subjected to sexualized violence and exploitation.

There has been advocacy to expand the mandate of family violence shelters as part of the Challenge for Change project, a three-year project led by Winnipeg’s Willow Place family violence shelter, to integrate and coordinate supports needed by persons experiencing violence.

The project advocated for a broad safety mandate for women seeking service from shelters.  This broader interpretation applies to women who are trafficked, sexually assaulted or whose safety is at risk because they are homeless.

Members of the Indigenous community are advocating for a Winnipeg 24/7 safe space for 2SLGBTQQIA people who are fleeing violence or have been subjected to sexualized violence and exploitation.

Winnipeg’s family violence shelters, Willow Place and Ikwe Widdjiitiwin, need to be a part of this advocacy.

Lets all work together folks.