HAMM POINTS TO NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
2004 purple ribbon campaign recalls
14 women killed in 1989

by James Keller

Lack of affordable housing worsens problems faced by abused women, Premier John Hamm said Thursday.

But opposition and shelter workers say there aren't enough spaces to ease the burden.

Mr. Hamm made the comments at Province House while launching this year's purple ribbon program, a 16-day campaign run by the Transitional Housing Association to raise awareness of violence against women.

This was the first year the province was involved in the launch of the program.

During a brief question-and-answer session, Angela Bishop of Community Action on Homelessness asked the premier whether affordable housing played a role in the problem.

"The issue of violence against women is very complex, and housing is part of the issue," Mr. Hamm said in response. "There's a role of affordable housing in terms of allowing women and their children to escape violent situations," he said later.

Lyn Barrett, co-chair of the Transitional Housing Association, who also spoke at Province House, agreed that access to housing makes it worse for women in violent relationships.

"Once (abused women) have left the home, they have to establish a safe place to live where they would want to bring up children," she said. "It doesn't really exist right now."

Ms. Barrett said that leaves women in shelters like Halifax's Bryony House with no place to move on to and subsequently means there's no room for women still in abusive situations.

Liberal housing critic Manning MacDonald said affordable housing isn't a priority for the Hamm government.

In September 2002 the province and Ottawa entered into a $32.2-million housing agreement. The program matches provincial funds with federal money to build more housing.

Mr. MacDonald said the province isn't putting up the needed funds to take advantage of the program.

Community Services Minister David Morse agreed that housing is linked to the effects of violence against women, but said his department is working to create more affordable living space. "A plan to utilize the entire affordable housing program has been put through cabinet," he said.

"We will see a steady stream (of housing developments) until we commit every cent of that program."

Ms. Barrett said any improvements to housing must be coupled with education and awareness to prevent abuse.

"Housing is one issue, but there's probably a hundred issues and most of the women are unique," she said. "Housing isn't a causative piece; it doesn't come before the abuse."