Support for Canadians who experienced gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

Everyone has the right to live free from violence. Unacceptably, too many people in Canada continue to experience violence every day because of their gender, gender expression, gender identity or perceived gender. This issue was magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic in communities across the country. That’s why Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) collaborated with partners to support Canadians experiencing gender-based violence.

Distribution

Beginning in April 2020, through WAGE, the Government of Canada invested $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding to over 1,400 front-line organizations across Canada, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations that provide critical supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence. This served as a short-term response to the pandemic.

Because of this one-time emergency funding, more than 4 million individuals experiencing gender-based violence had a safe place to turn to access supports. This funding  ensured the continuation of critical and often life-saving services for those in need, both during and beyond the pandemic.

This investment was above and beyond the ongoing work and investments of the Government of Canada to address gender-based violence.  Both WAGE’s Women’s Program and Gender-based Violence Program, and the Federal Gender-Based Violence Strategy continue to support the Government of Canada’s efforts to address gender-based violence, including supporting women’s shelters and transitional housing.  

View the list of organizations that have been funded.

Funded organizations

The following organizations received funds to help those experiencing gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Related links 

• Government of Canada accelerates investments in shelters, transition housing and other organizations providing gender-based violence supports and services
• Government of Canada provides emergency COVID-19 funds to nearly 1,000 organizations delivering essential frontline supports to those fleeing violence and abuse
• Crisis lines for those affected by gender-based violence
• Snapshot: COVID-19 and gender-based violence