A new funding model for family violence shelters announced by the province earlier this week is very good news.

That is according to Ang Braun, Executive Director of Genesis House in Winkler.

The announcement was made by Families Minister Rochelle Squires, the minister responsible for the status of women. 

Ang Braun

"When I saw the funding announcement and we received our letter from the Minister (Rochelle Squires), I have to say I was a bit emotional because we've been talking and trying to express the needs of the women we're serving, and how we aren't able to adequately provide services that we know are necessary. So seeing the letter, I have to say it was a huge sigh of relief for me. And I know that the shelters have been extraordinarily busy the second part of COVID..."

Braun, along with others working in the field of family violence, has been in discussions with the province for a while now. Through those discussions, Braun noted they've been trying to capture the way the work has changed over the last ten years.

"They've (MB Government) definitely been hearing what we're saying," noted Braun. "They have captured the needs of the women that we're seeing, how those needs have become more complex. They've also then identified that the staff that we have, and the expectations of the staff also are higher."

Braun said that means they need to provide compensation that reflects what the work actually is that is happening. She said the model does reflect that.

Braun said the new funding formula will include better compensation for the women that work at the shelter. "We haven't seen any changes there, in over fourteen years, not even cost of living so this is going to be a little bit of catchup for us, at this point."

There is also enough funding to start exploring some of the safety requirements they've identified, including having Genesis House staffed by two people the majority of the time, noted Braun. In addition, the new funding model also includes dollars to fund the shelter's crisis line. Until now, Genesis House, and other shelters with an emergency number, would need to find their own way to cover the cost of the crisis line.

Although there is much relief with the announced changes, Braun says she recognizes there's a lot of work ahead, like deciding where the dollars are most necessary and will do the most good.

Meanwhile, Braun said meetings are set up next week with the province and representatives of family violence shelters to talk about the details of the expectation of their service purchase agreement. from there, Braun said she's confident they will have the new Purchase Agreement with the province approved and signed by the middle of May.