Good Morning, 

My name is Marlene Ham and I work as the Executive Director at the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses.  

First I would like to thank the government for the collaboration with OAITH and our members over the last number of years with investments throughout the pandemic and more recently through Ontario STANDS.  Your support of our primary campaign Wrapped in Courage always delivers impact and leaves us with hope that we can create a better future together. 

I am here today however because I want to work with the government to find a way for these organizations to move from surviving to thriving.  In 2019 I began talking and presenting to the government that the shelters were experiencing a bottleneck crisis.  I am sure you can imagine how much more difficult this has actually become.  The unintended consequence for survivors is they must stay longer in shelters.  The longer people stay, the more others have to be turned away to other services, possibly leaving them in danger and contributing to the risk of femicide in your community.  

This is not the system that was designed to support survivors of gender-based violence.  Unfortunately after decades of under-funding, no affordable housing and an increasing population, this is what we’re left with.  

 I wanted to share a few highlights from our Provincial Budget Survey so that this government can understand the barriers and the importance of investing into your existing services.  A full submission will be provided to the Ministry of Finance.  

60 Million Can Solve Problems and Move to Solutions 

1. There is capacity within the system to provide more beds-they just need the funding to do so.  Money used in this way will instantly serve more and improve the safety of survivors and their children. 
2. Nearly 85% of participating shelters were hiring on the date they filled in the survey 
3. Shelters have a precarious workforce with 40% of them being contract, relief and part time workers and nearly 60% are indicating a relief shortage.
4. There is a significant pay disparity with no base rate of pay that exists in the sector.   
5. Fundraising to pay hydro and health benefits isn’t sustainable AND not having shelter and the numerous outreach programs they provide isn’t feasible for our communities-we need to collaborate on the solution.  
6. More than 30 % of our members operate second stage and transitional housing, however more could be developed if you reduce the red tape, costly application requirements and ensure there is operational funding.  
7. 75% have indicated they must fundraise for core programs. 
8. Increased expenditures are being reported for insurance, health benefits and cyber insurance while IT costs now represent 10% of their budgets with no dedicated funding for this. 

Despite all of these challenges one of our members describes their success this past year by saying: 

“Our team has assisted women and children with some of the most complex files we have ever dealt with that touch every system from family and criminal court, mental health and addictions, child protection, education and developmental services.  Increasingly, doors are being closed  in our faces as we have fewer and fewer options for women in the legal system, the housing system and healthcare and still our team delivers positive change for women.”  

 I hope that budget 2025 will deliver for them too.  

Thank you for your time