As MLA for Fairview-Clayton Park, I represent a beautifully diverse constituency that includes many cultures, backgrounds, as well as marginalized and less fortunate Nova Scotians. On Friday, I attended a funding announcement supporting second stage housing for indigenous women at the Mi’kmaq Family Resource Centre.
I care deeply about helping our most vulnerable. I work hard each day by engaging with the community and standing up for those who need it the most. I attended Friday’s event to celebrate an important project that paves the way for future innovation in safe, affordable housing – not only helping those in Fairview-Clayton Park, but our most vulnerable across Nova Scotia.
Thanks to this project, Indigenous women and children fleeing domestic violence will soon have a safe new place to call home, with the help of government funding for affordable second-stage housing.
As Minister of Community Services, Joanne Bernard, said at the event, “Making sure women and children fleeing domestic violence have a safe place to go is an important priority for the government.”
Second-stage housing is longer-term, individual housing, where tenants can live for an extended time. It offers programs and services to help them transition to independent living.
The provincial and federal governments have committed up to $824,000 for the four-unit development, addressing the unique needs of urban indigenous families. Through this project, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre plans to provide support services for victims of domestic violence, including counselling, parenting and employment programs.
The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre is a registered not-for-profit organization, working to improve the lives of urban indigenous peoples.
In August 2016 both governments announced investments in affordable housing under the 2016 federal budget, which included support for victims of domestic violence. Housing Nova Scotia is investing $5.2 million in federal funding to support the construction and renovation of shelters for victims of domestic violence and transition houses.