More funding needed for survivors of gender-based violence, says YWCA
Fridays marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
On the 35th anniversary of the murders of 14 women at Montreal's École Polytechnique, the YWCA in St. John's is raising money for its national emergency survivor support fund.
The fund — known as NESS — helps survivors of domestic violence with low-barrier access to financial support. That money is used for urgent costs, such as rent or travel.
"We want to listen to survivors, we want to believe survivors, and we trust survivors," Maria Gentle, executive director of YWCA St. John's, told CBC News.
"The data on what survivors need says that financial support is one of the most significant ways to support folks toward a pathway of safety."
The YWCA has been in St. John's since 1925 and is now releasing a new strategic plan focused on how gender-based violence manifests in lives and how survivors can access support.
Gentle says it's a rampant issue everywhere, which is why the organization is raising money for the national fund.
The last the group opened the fund was September 2024. Money ran out in only a month.
Gentle says that was a clear indicator as to why there's a need for more funding.
"So right now, the NESS fund is closed, and that's why we're seeking support, so that we can reopen it and continue to serve folks in the means that they say best support them," she said.
Activism and funding more important than ever
While the events of École Polytechnique have become a day to remember in Canada — Dec. 6 marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women — Gentle says it's an everyday reality for those who live with gender-based violence.
"[They] know that it's an everyday emergency. It's in our homes, it's in communities and it's most often with folks we know. And that's what makes it so insidious," she said.
"The way gender-based violence manifests can sometimes go unnoticed."
But the support NESS provides to survivors doesn't end there.
Gentle says patriarchy, sexism, homophobia and transphobia are the root causes of gender-based violence, and it has many forms, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
The YWCA has diverse programs for that reason, she said, such as 2SLGBTQ+ newcomer support services and partnerships with First Voice.
Educating youth about gender-based violence is also very important, said Gentle. The YWCA offers education and prevention programs at high schools, and Gentle says youth are eager to talk.
"[They're] relieved that there's a space to talk about gender-based violence. And they're eager to learn about what are the signs, what are the forms of gender-based violence," she said. "So it's really exciting."
The YWCA is currently running a 16 days of activism initiative.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from the St. John's Morning Show and Julia Israel
