Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter is still waiting for provincial funding so its new emergency beds and second-stage housing units can finally open to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
On Tuesday, the province announced that shelters will receive a one-time payment that's equal to 3.5 per cent of their annual provincial operating grant.
Danica Hoffart, executive director of the Red Deer shelter, said while she was grateful for any additional funds, it's disheartening that annual operational funding has not increased over the last decade. One-time funding does not allow for any long-term planning, including increases to staff or wages.
"Not only has there not been an increase to our base funding in 10 years, but now, for the second year we've had space, we have not received funding from the Government of Alberta to open our additional 10 emergency beds or our 17 second stage apartment units," Hoffart said.
In October 2024, shelter clients and staff moved into the newly constructed building that replaced the old 40-bed shelter with 50 emergency beds, and 17 one-and-two bedroom, second-stage housing.
"Right now, we are funded to operate one-third of the capacity of our building while we bear the cost of utilities and insurance on a much bigger space, and also have to turn away women and children fleeing violence because we don't have beds that are funded."
For the last 10 years, the Red Deer shelter has received $1,988,321 in annual operational funding from the province. The one-time payment to help with cost pressures will add $70,166.
Hoffart said the province has known the new beds were coming since 2022. The project, which will also include 23 affordable apartment units that will be ready later this year, was made possible with $29.87 million from the Women and Children Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s National Co-Investment Fund.
The one-time funding for shelters is part of a $54-million bilateral agreement with the federal government.
"All vulnerable Albertans deserve to live free from family violence and domestic abuse. By investing a portion of the funding towards women's shelters, Alberta's government remains steadfast in its commitment to increase funding by $10 million over four years to ensure that survivors are protected and supported," said Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton, in a statement.
He said the province provided almost $57 million to shelters in 2024-25, and this year's one-time funding builds on one-time funding of $5 million in 2023-24.
Marci Ien, federal minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, said survivors of gender-based violence deserve compassionate, timely and meaningful support.
"Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, we are investing in life-changing initiatives in Alberta that provide critical services and protection to those at risk and affected by violence. This is a testament to what we can achieve when governments and communities come together – building a safer, more inclusive and more equitable Alberta for everyone," Ien said.
The bilateral funding was distributed to support initiatives to systemically address gender-based violence such as:
• Women’s shelter programming for access to safety, inclusive services and supports.
• Reporting and prevention efforts at post-secondary institutions.
• Increasing access to education and resources related to elder abuse.
• Supporting academic research on gender-related injury and illness in the workplace.
• Implementing Indigenous-led initiatives that advance the Alberta Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roadmap.
Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter continues to fundraise for equipment and furnishings for its new building. The video Our New Home provides information about the project, and the video Support Your CAWES shares the voices of survivors.
