Winnipeg safe space expanding services for Indigenous women and girls with new funds
An Indigenous-led safe space for sexually exploited women and girls is expecting to expand its reach in Winnipeg with funds from the federal government.
Ottawa says nearly $7 million is to help with operating costs at Velma's House.
Patty Hajdu, the federal minister of Indigenous Services, says the money should allow the organization to increase its capacity and deliver culturally appropriate programs.
Part of the money is also to go toward purchasing a new building, so the group can offer ceremonies, counselling and meals to more people.
The home opened in the spring of 2021 and has since outgrown its current location.
Dodie Jordaan, executive director of Ka Ni Kanichihk, which oversees Velma's House, says the new location is expected to open by the end of the year.
"The space was so small. So many women were sleeping on the porch and laying in the grass and waiting to take turns to come in," she said Monday.
"It was critical that we found a larger space in a space that was much more inviting and able to meet the needs of the women around."
Staff said it's the only low-barrier place in Winnipeg offering supports for women who have been sexually exploited.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called for governments to fund Indigenous-centred and community-based health and wellness services.
Hajdu said money given to Velma's House is part of the federal government's plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.
"The work that (Ka Ni Kanichihk) does is not just a nice to have, this is the core of a community. This is the foundation of a community where people feel that they have a place to go to when bad things happen," she said.
A total of $4 million is to go toward operating costs to 2026.
Jordaan said the funding should allow the space to operate 24 hours a day and provide resources for up to 60 people at a time. The previous space allowed up to 10 people at a time.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.