The nation’s oldest and largest gender equity organization is launching Canada’s first-ever National Emergency Survivor Support fund.

The YWCA Canada fund will provide women, gender-diverse people and their families, as well as emergency shelter residents with immediate financial support to escape abusive situations and begin rebuilding their lives. They will also be connected to services such as counselling, healthcare, employment and legal assistance.

Interim CEO of YWCA Canada, Raine Liliefeldt says, “A lack of financial resources is one of the most common reasons survivors stay in abusive situations. Without help, survivors have few options available to them to protect themselves and their families.”

YWCA, in partnership with 12 of its member associations across the country for the next fours years will be awarding 1500 grants to individuals dealing with domestic abuse, including 375 being awarded in 2022.

They will begin accepting applications from survivors starting Thursday, July 21, 2022. You can contact YWCA Saskatoon at (306) 244-7034 or visit their website https://www.ywcasaskatoon.com/  for more information.