Community organizations working to prevent and respond to violence against women and children across B.C. will be receiving a $5 million boost from the government to help reduce waitlists for some of the most vulnerable seeking care.

During an announcement at the Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre Friday, Premier John Horgan said that funding for these kinds of services 鈥渉as been stagnant, if I can be generous.鈥�

Horgan also said British Columbians can expect more to come in the governent鈥檚 budget in February.

"Funding has been stagnant, if I can be generous," Premier John Horgan says of government support for women and children affected by violence.

鈥� Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)

About $4 million of the funds, which will be available to programs and organizations in the form of one-time grants, will be used to address the high demans for programs that help women and children through counselling, outreach and crisis support.

Meanwhile, $800,000 will support inter-agency case assessment teams of police officers, victim service workers and transition house service providers.

The remaining $200,000 will help fund two B.C.-wide educational and awareness programs: Be More Than A Bystander, an award-winning program that鈥檚 delivered to more than 80,000 high school students and youth, and Violence is Preventable 鈥� a free, confidential, school-bases violence prevention program for children and youth agred three to 18 years old.

Alison Brewin, interim executive director of the Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre, said Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre in Whalley receives 5,000 visits every year by women seeking support and help. 鈥淪eeking help on their journey from survival to the thriving lives they are entitled to in this province,鈥� she said. 鈥淪adly, we have a two year wait list for our counselling services.

鈥淲e鈥檙e only reaching a portion of the women and children and men who need our help, who are dealing with gender-based violence,鈥� Brewin added.

鈥淔unding from a government that shares our commitment to gender justice is an important sign that this sector is valued, that women who experience violence deserve safety, respect, dignity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a dry 16 years, I have to say,鈥� Brewin said of funding under the previous Liberal government. 鈥淭he past 16 years has been a focus on victimization, not the person. It鈥檚 been about the symptoms and not the cure. So I thank the B.C. government for showing up and letting us know that the women we serve have been seen and are being heard.鈥�

Horgan said at the presser that the more awareness there is about this issue, 鈥渢he more ability we have to address the problems, systemic problems in our society.

鈥淐ommunity-based organizations like the Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre provide critical outreach and counselling and crisis support for survivors and for too long centres like these have not been given the resources that they need. Funding has been stagnant, if I could be generous,鈥� Horgan said. 鈥淐entres like the Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre are stretched to the limit.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an important first step,鈥� Horgan said of the $5 million in funding. 鈥淭his is just the beginning.鈥�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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