Commit to Investing in Housing for Women Escaping Domestic Violence - Question Period

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act. In a recent op- ed, Shiva Nourpanah, the executive director of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, wrote that a lack of housing options "is a key factor preventing women from leaving abusive relationships, and in many cases contributes to their choice to return to their abusers after they have left." I'll table that.

My question to the minister is: Will the minister commit, as only she can, as a member of the Executive Council, to making the investments needed today to ensure high rents and lack of housing do not leave women in abusive situations?

HON. KARLA MACFARLANE « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for this question, knowing very well how passionate the member is about this issue, as well as are all of us in this Chamber.

Currently, the Department of Community Services is providing $100,000 in funding to four organizations to come up with a plan for a hub for 100 women and children, so please stay tuned for that endeavour that we are seeking.

Of course, we're constantly working with our different service providers in ensuring that there's always a safe place for women and children in this province. Thank you.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding that investment, Nourpanah goes on to point out that the housing crisis is also leaving women and children in transition houses for longer periods of time. Even when families are ready to move on, they cannot find permanent, affordable housing. Instead, what service providers are seeing across the province is that women and children are frequently moving into temporary housing like motels or even tents.

Mr. Speaker, given this reality, and notwithstanding the funding that has already been committed, does the Minister for the Status of Women think that more needs to be done? If so, what is it? Otherwise, women and children leaving abusive situations will continue to be shuffled from transition houses into motel rooms and tents.

KARLA MACFARLANE « » : As a follow-up to the member, Mr. Speaker, of course I think this is extremely important and addressing it has proven to be layered and complex. Everyone's needs are certainly different, but certainly we continue to work with our service providers. Just recently, in the last couple of weeks, we were able to place a number of female individuals and we will continue to do that.

I also would like to remind the Chamber here, too, that there are rent supplements. If you think someone is in jeopardy that they can . . . (Interruption)

THE SPEAKER « » : Order, please. It's noisy in the House. Let the minister finish, please.

HON. KARLA MACFARLANE « » : This is a reminder of the rental supplements. That is one initiative, but there are many. If the member would like to sit down with me and discuss those, I'd be more than happy. (Applause)