The Canadian Women's Foundation has $19.6 million in federal funding to disburse to the provinces and territories to take action against gender-based violence.
Grants of up to $200,000 are being made available to successful applicants. Among those eligible to apply are service providers that offer abuse intervention and prevention services such as shelters and counselling and sexual assault support programs, particularly those that serve Indigenous, Black and disabled populations.
"The (Safer + Stronger Grants) program addresses the rising risks of gender-based violence in the pandemic and ensures critical services continue to reach survivors and their dependents," the Canadian Women's Foundation stated in a news release.
Women's Shelters Canada revealed that 52 per cent of 266 surveyed shelters reported seeing clients who were experiencing more severe forms of violence during the pandemic.
"This support from the Government of Canada comes at a crucial time when home is a dangerous place for those at a high risk of abuse," said Paulette Senior, president and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation.
For more information on Safer + Stronger Grants, visit: http://canadianwomen.org/safer-stronger-grants