Advocates in Ontario are urging the government to increase the availability of affordable and transitional housing for women escaping domestic violence. At Anova shelter in London, women now stay up to 72 days due to a lack of housing options. The lengths of stay have more than doubled over five years, raising concerns about the heightened risks for women without safe post-shelter housing. Despite special priority access for domestic violence survivors, long wait times hinder timely housing solutions, leaving many at risk of returning to unsafe situations. Increased funding for shelters is also essential to meet growing demand.
"We're having women stay longer because of the lack of affordable housing available to them," Rodger said, adding that lengths of stay at Anova have more than doubled in the last five years.
"We always worry that if women have to stay longer in our shelter and their risk decreases but there's still nowhere for them to go after they leave us, their risk could dramatically increase again if they're being forced to go back into a precarious, unsafe living situation."
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