Toronto – The Government of Ontario has announced a $26.7 million investment over the next two years to expand emergency shelter capacity and strengthen family court support services for survivors of gender-based violence.
The funding, revealed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, forms part of the province’s wider plan to improve access to protection, justice, and wrap-around services for victims. The initiative aims to enhance both the number of available shelter spaces and the accessibility of legal and community supports across Ontario.
Expanding frontline capacity
Under the new programme, the province will support more than 65 emergency shelters, including those in rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities. The funding will enable shelters to provide over 300 new spaces for women and dependents seeking safety.
The Ministry said Ontario’s shelters currently serve around 12,000 women and dependents each year, and demand for secure accommodation and comprehensive services continues to grow.
“Our government is taking action to end gender-based violence in Ontario by investing in community partners and strengthening local services,” said Michael Parsa, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “This investment will help frontline agencies across the province provide survivors with a safe place to heal and rebuild their lives.”
The new funding commitment includes $8.25 million in 2025-26, rising to $15.7 million in 2026-27, to provide annualised support for expanded shelter capacity.
According to the Ministry, this targeted investment reflects the government’s focus on ensuring shelter access “where and when it’s needed,” particularly in regions where options are limited and demand outpaces resources.
Supporting women’s independence
Alongside the shelter expansion, the province will allocate $2.7 million annually to the Family Court Support Worker programme, designed to assist survivors navigating the often complex family court system.
These support workers provide practical and emotional assistance — explaining court processes, helping survivors prepare for hearings, accompanying them to proceedings, and connecting them with community-based referrals for additional aid.
“Women need to feel safe and supported in their communities in order to reach their full potential,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “By strengthening community-based services, our government is helping to prevent violence and support women to succeed everywhere—at home, at work, and in their communities.”
In the 2024-25 financial year, the Family Court Support Worker programme helped more than 10,500 survivors of domestic violence across 43 locations in the province.
The additional funding is expected to expand these services further, improving access and response times, especially in underserved regions.
Sector reaction
The funding has been welcomed by organisations working on the frontline of gender-based violence prevention and survivor support.
“Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses applauds this government for heeding our call to invest in more shelter spaces across Ontario,” said Marlene Ham, Executive Director of OAITH. “It is investments like this one that will open doors to safety, wellbeing and futures free from violence. When services like shelter spaces and wraparound support services are offered, better outcomes are realized bringing hope and possibility to those who need it most.”
OAITH and similar groups have long argued that capacity and staffing shortfalls place strain on existing services, leaving vulnerable women without timely assistance. The latest funding round aims to address those concerns and reinforce the infrastructure of community-led crisis response.
Broader government strategy
The investment is part of Ontario’s ongoing action plan to end gender-based violence, announced in December 2023, which commits over $1.4 billion to prevention, intervention, and recovery programmes over four years.
It also complements a broader provincial initiative to protect vulnerable groups, including a $345 million renewal of Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy for 2025-2030, described as the largest such investment in Canada.
The government has said these combined efforts form a long-term commitment to “build safer and healthier communities,” supporting women’s well-being and economic security.
Minister Parsa emphasised that the latest funding reflects both an immediate and a systemic response to violence. By bolstering shelter networks and ensuring legal and community supports are in place, the province aims to provide stability and empowerment for those escaping abusive environments.
Outlook
Advocates say the challenge now lies in maintaining sustained investment beyond the two-year period and ensuring funding reaches organisations quickly. Shelter operators have also called for parallel investments in housing, mental health, and childcare services to help survivors rebuild their lives more effectively.
The Ministry said further details on programme implementation will be provided as the funding is distributed, with regional allocations based on demonstrated need and service gaps.
For survivors of gender-based violence, the government’s latest funding announcement signals an important commitment to accessibility and safety — one that, according to advocates, could determine whether women and children find timely refuge or face prolonged risk.
