“I have to tell rape victims to come back in 11 months”: A counsellor at the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, on the provincial funding cuts
“The day in march 2018 when the Ontario Liberals announced their gender-based violence strategy, I cried with joy. The plan included $14.8 million in additional funding for Ontario’s rape crisis centres.
“That money was needed. At the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, where I work, I had been turning away survivors who’d taken that courageous first step to seek support. We had to tell them to wait a year and half before they could get help. The demand is just overwhelming.
“[in March 2018] the Toronto rape crisis centre was to receive an increase of $159,000 per year for three years. Ninety per cent of that would go to hiring two full-time counsellors. For overworked staffers and survivors, it was a miracle.”
“One month after the election, everything changed. We learned the new government would not be honouring its predecessor’s commitment.”
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
Sexual assault myths abound in former World Junior Hockey players sexual assault case: Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) responds
Sexual assault has the lowest rate of reporting to police amongst all violent crimes. Despite years of sexual violence advocacy, awareness-raising and the work of community services to support survivors, [...]
Many sexual assault cases did not proceed due to judge shortages, court and Crown delays: OCRCC responds
Multiple sexual assault cases did not proceed through the legal system in Ontario recently, due to foreseeable judge shortages[1], court delays[2], and Crown delays[3]. As a result, those who were [...]