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EDMONTON — Alberta is investing an additional $16 million to expand supports for people experiencing family violence, with new funding aimed at helping survivors access services tailored to their individual needs.
The funding builds on the province’s previously announced $62-million commitment to family violence initiatives.
About $15 million will be distributed through three new funding streams under the Emergency Family Violence Services program, while more than $700,000 will provide transition funding to help family violence shelters maintain services as the new programs are introduced.
Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton said survivors have made it clear one approach does not meet everyone’s needs.
“Family violence response looks different in every community and we want to ensure that the supports and services available reflect those unique needs,” Turton said.
“These investments will enable agencies to work together, improve emergency shelter facilities and expand services to better meet the evolving needs of vulnerable Albertans.”
The province says the new funding will support community-based services for people who may not require emergency shelter, encourage greater collaboration between agencies and community organizations, and help pay for urgent repairs and upgrades to shelter facilities.
Officials say the goal is to give survivors more options to access crisis support and begin recovery while remaining safely in their homes or communities whenever possible.
YWCA Calgary CEO Talia Bell welcomed the announcement, saying organizations are increasingly moving beyond the traditional shelter model.
“We have reimagined the traditional shelter model to provide holistic, family-centred support in a fully accessible, pet-friendly environment where families can heal and rebuild their lives,” Bell said.
Wanda McGinnis, executive director of Big Hill Haven, said emergency shelters are often only the beginning of a survivor’s journey.
“Our shelters are often the first point of connection for people seeking safety, but support does not end at our doors,” she said.
The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters also welcomed the investment.
“Every Albertan experiencing family violence deserves access to safety and support, regardless of where they live,” executive director Catherine Champagne said.
The province says applications for the new funding streams will open in September, with the grant programs expected to be fully implemented by spring 2027.
Alberta currently supports 31 women’s emergency shelters, 19 second-stage shelters, two alternative service delivery models and five fee-for-service shelters in First Nations communities.
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