KITCHENER, ON – The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR), held a ground-breaking ceremony today to celebrate the start of construction of “Anselma House”, a 45-bed shelter for women and children who are victims of family violence in the Region of Waterloo.
Stephen Woodworth, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Mary Zilney, Executive Director, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region; along with invited guests attended today’s event.
“Our Government is committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Ontario”, said MP Stephen Woodworth. "That’s why we are proud to have invested in this facility which will help women and children in Kitchener access safe and suitable housing, and build a stronger future for themselves.”
The Government of Canada, through CMHC provided $500,000 to WCSWR through the Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) and $10,000 in Seed Funding.
The SEP program assists in repairing, rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women and their children, youth or men who are victims of family violence. It also provides financial assistance for the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second-stage housing where needed. Seed Funding offers financial assistance to housing proponents who are in the early stages of developing an affordable housing project.
The new Anselma House will be built on a 1.7 acre property at 700 Heritage Drive in Kitchener and will serve 45 women and children. The “Rebuild Anselma House…Rebuild Lives” campaign, led by the WCSWR, continues its efforts to achieve the fundraising goals for this project.
“Women’s Crisis Services is the only agency in Waterloo Region that provides emergency shelter to abused women and their children. The increasing number of women seeking our assistance highlights that domestic violence continues to be a very serious problem,” said Mary Zilney, Executive Director, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. “We are most grateful to the CMHC and the Government of Canada, who have made a significant financial contribution in recognition of the critical need in our community.”
The WCSWR is a charitable organization that operates two emergency shelters for abused women and their children: Anselma House in Kitchener and Haven House in Cambridge plus a regional Outreach program. This is the only agency in the Waterloo Region that provides these services. WCSWR also offers programs, both individual and for groups, to become educated on violence and enhance skill development.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has been Canada's national housing agency for more than 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country.
In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. As a part of this investment, the renovation programs for low-income households, including the Shelter Enhancement Program, were extended for two years. For Ontario this represents $73 million in federal funding for renovation programs off-reserve.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing for low-income Canadians, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
