The provincial government is pouring $12.5 million into programs and services for women and children escaping violence, but the Howe Sound Women's Centre doesn't know what that will mean for its services.
"What that looks like we have no idea," said Melany Crowston, the program co-ordinator of the Women's Centre.
Although the provincial government no longer funds women's centres, the Howe Sound Women's Centre still received funds for Pearl's Place transition house and the Children Who Witness Abuse program.
Currently, there is a $209,000 budget for the transition centre, and a $26,000 budget for the children's program.
The women's centre programs got a top-up of $20,000 in 2004, but is still one of the least funded, Crowston said.
"That was to bring them up to a level playing field," said Wendy McMahon, the Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services. "They are funded for the services they provide."
McMahon said Pearl's Place needs to enhance its services but will need money to do that.
On April 1, the funding for programs will increase to $45.5 million from $33 million. Of that, $2 million will go into expanded Stopping the Violence and Children Who Witness Abuse counselling programs, and $2 million will go into new measures to address violence agai-nst women.
"This is the largest funding inc-rease for transition houses and other front-line services in over a decade," McMahon said in a press release. "This means new and better program and services to help protect the personal safety of women, help women cope with the effects of violence and help break the cycle of violence. It means making our communities safer for women and children no matter who they are or where they live."
That's great that they are putting money to stop violence but women's centres are a big part of that, Crowston said.
"It's kind of frustrating for all of us who work in the women's centre that the provincial government doesn't recognize that."
Funding of $5.1 million is going into making transition houses accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pearl's Place is one of 15 transition houses in the province not open 24 hours a day.
"That's our goal, to make transitions houses 24/7," McMahon said. "That's what this money is about."
Crowston said she like to see Pearl's Place staffed 24 hours a day, with possibly more than one staff member.
The amount of money going to specific transition houses or programs has yet to be decided by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services.
