Newfoundland and Labrador’s three main political figures have expressed their opinions on the funding issues raised by women’s shelters, with the NDP and PCs criticizing the current situation while the incumbent Liberals have committed to addressing the concerns.
During a campaign visit in New-Wes-Valley, Liberal Leader John Hogan emphasized the importance of preventing shelter closures and ensuring adequate funding to maintain their operations. Hogan acknowledged the complexity of the matter and stressed the need for improvement in supporting shelters.
Hogan advocated for a comprehensive review of the shelter system to address the challenges faced by transition houses. Concerns about the future of these shelters were highlighted in a CBC News report earlier in the day, as operators expressed worries about insufficient base funding to cover escalating expenses.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham criticized the government’s handling of the situation, describing the failure to allocate necessary funds to support shelters as unacceptable. Wakeham highlighted the essential role of these centers in providing solutions and underscored the need for proper funding.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn criticized the government for not adjusting contributions to shelters to keep pace with inflation, effectively resulting in funding cuts. Government records revealed that shelter base funding has remained stagnant since 2020, growing at a fraction of the inflation rate.
The association representing transition houses reported that four shelters faced payroll challenges this year and had to seek emergency funding from the province. They urged the government to increase their operational budgets to ensure financial stability.
The call for enhanced funding to secure the financial future of shelters has gained momentum, with stakeholders emphasizing the urgency of addressing the funding gap to sustain critical services for women and children in need.
