Cutbacks hit women's centres

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An elderly Nuu-chah-nulth woman sits in the front room quietly chatting with two younger women. She is the same woman, sitting in the same place that I saw on a previous trip to the Women's Resource Centre.

She pauses, mid-sentence, to acknowledge my presence with a quick glance then resumes her story, seemingly oblivious to the fact that her little sanctuary may be taken away. The cosy front room is not the property of any of the three women there, but it belongs to them. It is a place for all women, youth and children to come for all sorts of reasons.

This day the women share coffee and stories. They are stranded, I am told, for a few hours until a ride home can be arranged for them. Corinna Craig of the Ucluelet Women's Centre said families on limited incomes must depend on free rides from their homes about 10 kilometres away in order to do their shopping. They are often stranded for hours until they can find someone headed back their way.

The Women's Centre serves as a drop-in centre, a place for women to socialize and to support those in need. It is the front line for women in crisis situations. It is a place that may well close its doors in March 2004 when the B.C. Government cuts all funding to all of B.C.'s women's resources centres. Anne Grabowski of the Port Alberni women's centre said that in a generic letter sent by the government, it is hinted that women's centres will face cutbacks this year and again next year with funding completely cut in 2004.

Craig is angry with Premier Gordon Campbell and his government for breaking campaign promises that women's centres would not suffer cutbacks.

"All of B.C.'s women's centres operate on a budget of about $2 million per year," she explained. "Each centre receives an annual budget of about $48,000, the same amount of money Campbell spent redecorating his office when he took over as premier."

Anne Grabowski of the Port Alberni Women's Resources Centre is equally angry with the government's actions.

"We knew right from day one when Campbell's cabinet was sworn in that women's programs would suffer. There was no longer a Minister for Women's Equality."

She explained that a new one was formed called the Ministry of Aboriginal, Community and Women's Services.

"We like to refer to it as the Ministry of Oppressed Persons or, even better, the Ministry of People that the Government Wishes Would Shut Up and Go Away," she said.

Craig said that while the Port Alberni and West Coast centres are open to all women and children, Nuu-chah-nulth families access the services at more than 50 per cent and up to 70 per cent in some cases.

"The Campbell River Centre, which operates on the same $48,000 annual budget, services at least 2,500 (people) each year and more than 50 per cent of those are First Nations," said Grabowski.

Women and children access services, referrals and information at the centres. Staff and volunteers act as advocates for women who may not be aware of their rights. Women escaping unhealthy relationships may find clothing and household items at the Ucluelet Women's Centre, an important service given that there are no second hand stores on the West Coast. The Ucluelet Centre also offers a weekly soup pot.

"Sometimes the girls come down from the school to have a nutritious bowl of soup and they occasionally ask to take some home for dinner," said Craig. "It's just a little something to supplement the diets of those living in poverty."

While women's centres are facing crippling cutbacks, the Transition Houses and Counselling Services will not be affected. These services would continue but counselling programs may have to move to smaller, less costly offices.

Craig said that government cutbacks would create a huge barrier to women and children escaping abusive relationships.

"Women must wait three weeks before applying for provincial social assistance and they often have no money, belongings or a place to live. Then they must now start searcing for work when their youngest child is three years old instead of seven. They must support themselves on the new minimum wage of $6 an hour with no assisted childcare.

"The B.C. Liberals are going the way of the Harris government in Ontario," she complained.

"They are balancing the budget on the backs of the poorest of the poor and that is morally wrong!"

The Women's Centres have been soliciting organizations for donations to keep services running at full capacity, but they are having little luck.

When asked what the centre would look like if alternative funding were not in place by 2004 Craig replied, with tears in her eyes, "Empty." She apologized for showing emotion, saying that she is passionate about what she does.

"I care about everyone that walks in that door. If we lose this place we lose a place that gives a damn about how the women and children in this area live."

She vowed that she would do whatever it takes to find funding for the centre, "even if it kills me!"