Doug Ford must support women and children in danger in London and fund Anova women’s shelter: NDP

LONDON - London NDP MPPs Teresa Armstrong (London-Fanshawe), Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre) and Peggy Sattler (London West) are calling on Doug Ford and the Conservatives to support women experiencing violence by providing the funding needed by Anova, a London-based agency that provides shelter, support, counselling, and resources for women and children fleeing abuse.

Anova announced on Tuesday that over the past year, staff had to refuse space more than 2,500 times to women in danger.

“Doug Ford’s funding cuts are having a devastating effect on women in danger in London who need help. It is horrifying to think that women seeking safety at our local women’s shelter were turned away more than 2,500 times over the past year because of lack of beds.

Despite seeing record numbers of women and children seeking help, lack of funding forced Anova to let go of a full time position at its walk-in Counselling and Support Centre last year. The position helped hundreds of clients every year.

At the time, we called on the Ford government to take action and support Anova. Today we are once again telling Doug Ford and the Conservatives: your silence is unacceptable, and your failure to act is putting the lives of women and children at risk.

As MPPs for the London area, we call upon you to provide the funding needed by Anova to meet the alarming rise in demand from women seeking safety in London.

We urge you to commit to the ongoing, stable funding necessary for Anova to meet the needs of growing numbers of Londoners dealing with the physical and emotional trauma of gender-based violence.”