Upcoming Week - Friends of Transition Houses Network

The Friends of Transition Houses Network is asking you all to remember when the Nova Scotia Politicians come knocking ask them this...

If elected to office will you INCREASE transition house operating budgets so that they can keep up with inflation?

Remind them that in these tough times, many people have to cut back on their donations to not-for-profit organizations. Even the Department of Community Services says that these tough times mean more people will turn to transition houses, the need is projected to be greater, yet the funding is insufficient.

Remind those candidates that we need more than volunteers, boards and staff to keep these houses open. We need them, government, to stand up against violence against women and children in Nova Scotia. We need them to make a commitment to stable funding for transition houses.

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The funding issue that surrounds Nova Scotia Transition Houses made it on the Nova Scotia NDP Party Platform where the party commits that they will increase and stabilize funding for Transition Houses and Women's Centres. They have put a dollar value of $500k in their second year of office. This is great that we actually made their platform with out us asking for it, but $500K spread out over at least 12 different transition houses... not to mention however many "women's centres" there are, doesn't catch "us" up to the cost of living (keep in mind it's been over 10 yrs since transition houses have recieved operational budget increases).

I am working with the Friends of Transition Houses Network steering committee today to finalize letters to all the political party leaders asking them to pledge to increase the operating budgets of Nova Scotia transition houses to reflect the current cost of goods and services and make a commitment to provide ongoing stable funding, tied to the rate of inflation at a minimum, for transition houses in Nova Scotia.

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The Until the Violence Stops Festival is coming up the first few weeks of June, this has even more significance as we will also be going to the polling stations during that time. I hope that the Friends of Transition Houses Network, and all of you are able to make some noise, ask the questions of the candidates and help to make sure that women & children have a safe haven in Nova Scotia should they need it.

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Look out for this weeks The Coast (Halifax's Free Indie Paper), the Best of Food edition. In it you will see the Friends of Transition Houses Network advertisement asking people to take action by way of questioning the candidates.

And if you find yourself at a Political Candidates Town Hall meeting, try to ask the questions there. Let me know the response you might get.

That's all for now Friends... a good week to have ahead, opportunities to make some noise, lift your voices and generate change!