Children and Family Services Ministry says it does provide funding for Medicine Hat’s women’s shelter

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on September 25, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Office of the Minister of Children and Family Services reached out to the Medicine Hat News to offer a clarification in regards to funding provided to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society.

“Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society receives over $2 million in annual grant funding from Children and Family Services to operate Phoenix Safe House, a 24/7 women’s emergency shelter, as well as Musasa House, a second-stage shelter,” said Ashli Barrett, press secretary.

Barrett says the province invests $55.8 million annually in Alberta’s women’s shelters and is delivering on a $10-million commitment, including an initial $5 million rolled out earlier this year to address urgent needs and fund priority spaces and programs in rural and high-demand communities.

“To date, Children and Family Services has not received a formal funding request from the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society,” said Barrett. “We continue to work with shelter partners across the province on transforming the women’s shelter sector into one that works cohesively together to address the needs of survivors, including how to prioritize expansion and renovation projects where they are needed most.”

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