$1M pilot project to find homes for domestic violence victims

A Calgary non-profit group and the Alberta government are spending almost$1 million to help women and children fleeing family violence move from temporary shelters into permanent homes.

The Family Violence Housing First Pilot Project, announced on Thursday, will aim to move 50 women and children living in emergency or transitional housing into regular homes within the next year.

"It is critical that women and children who are victims of domestic violence have housing available where they can pause, think about next steps, be safe and move to a better life," said Yvonne Fritz, minister of housing and urban affairs, in a news release.

The province is spending $747,650 on the program, while the Calgary Homeless Foundation is providing $250,000.

The groupsaid the pilot project will give women and children support services to deal with domestic violence or mental health issues, and subsequently the stability to find and keep their own homes.

"Some women and families facing domestic violence are forced to decide between homelessness or returning to the violence," said Brigitte Baradoy, a foundation spokeswoman.

The province leads Canada in domestic assaults, murder-suicides and stalking, according to the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters.

Last year, thousands of women and children were turned away from Alberta's shelters due to lack of space, added the council.