Ministry Of Finance Budget 2026 OAITH Submission
The Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH) has officially submitted its recommendations for the 2026 Provincial Budget, outlining a critical roadmap to ensure the safety and long-term support of survivors across Ontario. Representing 90 organizations, OAITH is calling on the government to move beyond one-time investments toward a sustainable, system-wide approach to ending gender-based violence (GBV).
Key Strategies for Budget 2026
OAITH’s submission highlights four primary pillars to stabilize the sector and better serve women and children:
Aligning with “Ontario STANDS”: OAITH urges that all relevant government strategies align with Ontario’s Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This includes a requested $10 million investment to help over 100 organizations deliver locally-informed prevention programs.
Annual Funding Indexing: To combat rising operational costs—such as utilities, wages, and maintenance—OAITH is advocating for an annual 3% indexing to base funding for shelters. This would replace the need for “catch-up” lump sums and provide the financial certainty staff and survivors deserve.
Addressing the Housing “Bottleneck”: A shelter system cannot function without a viable housing system. OAITH calls for increased investment in transitional housing operations and more affordable housing options to relieve the pressure on emergency shelters, which are currently forced to turn away thousands.
System-Wide Investment: The association is advocating for approximately $60 million to fund more beds, staff, and core programs across the province.
The Current Reality: A Sector Under Pressure
Recent survey data from OAITH members paints a stark picture of the challenges facing the sector:
High Demand: On average, shelters turned away 190 women and 68 children between April 2023 and March 2024.
Longer Stays: The average length of stay in a shelter has increased to 104 days, up from 80 days just two years prior.
Staffing Crisis: There is a 32% employee turnover rate, with 76% of those leaving citing compensation as the primary reason.
Funding Gaps: 90% of members must fundraise to cover the expenses of core programs primarily funded by the government.
“A shelter bed can be the only thing standing between safety and tragedy. But a shelter system is meaningless without a housing system.” — Marlene Ham, Executive Director, OAITH
Looking Ahead
Investing in the stability of GBV organizations is an investment in the safety of every community in Ontario. OAITH remains ready to partner with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) to ensure that the progress made so far is sustained for years to come.