Governments of Canada and Ontario Build New Violence Against Women Emergency Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Dryden

Press Release

DRYDEN, ONTARIO, October 12, 2016 — The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing in a new violence against women emergency shelter to support victims of domestic violence and their families in Dryden and surrounding area including Indigenous communities. The new Hoshizaki House will replace the current century-old facility to better meet the needs of local women and their children who have experienced domestic violence.

The Honourable Bob Nault, Member of Parliament for Kenora, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services for Ontario, made the announcement today.

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada contributed $3.1 million to Hoshizaki House through the doubling of the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement via the Social Infrastructure Fund.
• The new funding will support the construction of an 8,000 sq. ft. facility to replace the 3,000 sq. ft., century-old building on the current site.
• The new Hoshizaki House facility will increase the number of beds available to those in Dryden and area from ten to twelve.
• The proposed shelter will have eight bedrooms and seven washrooms, and will feature a large kitchen and dining area, a play area for children, a comfortable living room and a quiet room for private visits.
• The Hoshizaki House Dryden District Crisis Shelter serves communities in and around Dryden, Ignace, and Vermillion Bay.
• Hoshizaki House’s services also include a crisis line, child and youth program, counselling, family court support and transitional support.

Quotes:

“Our Government is dedicated to helping those in need, which is why we are proud to have invested in this project in Dryden. These new units are more than just safe and affordable places to live, they are key to a better life for the residents who will call them home.”
— Honourable Bob Nault, Member of Parliament for Kenora

“From Vermilion Bay to Ignace, an area that includes many Indigenous communities, Hoshizaki House is a lifeline for women and their children facing domestic violence. I can’t tell you how much it pleases me to be able to announce that Hoshizaki House will receive up to $3.1 million to replace this aging building with a bigger and better emergency shelter where women and their children can begin to rebuild their lives.”
— Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services for the Government of Ontario

“For over 30 years Hoshizaki House has provided services to women and children escaping domestic violence. Our shelter is grateful to the Federal and Provincial Governments for providing us with this funding to build a new, safe and supportive shelter that will be a home-like environment. The new shelter will allow us to enhance the capacity and programming we provide to women and children in Dryden and the surrounding area. This is a very exciting day for us at Hoshizaki House.”
— Tana Troniak, Executive Director – Hoshizaki House Dryden District Crisis Shelter

Associated Links:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been helping Canadians meet their housing needs for more than 70 years. As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry. Prudent risk management, strong corporate governance and transparency are cornerstones of CMHC’s operations. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Investing in a bigger and better Hoshizaki House supports the Ontario government’s goal of ending violence against women and providing better supports for survivors, and also supports the government’s It’s Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment.

Canadians are invited to help shape the National Housing Strategy by joining the conversation on www.LetsTalkHousing.ca. Your ideas will help shape the future of housing in Canada.

Media Contacts:

Wilbur McLean
Public Affairs
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
437-333-3299
wmclean@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Grace Mfumuangani
Communications
Ministry of Community and Social Services
416-325-0216
Grace.Mfumuangani@ontario.ca

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