Quick EscapeNESS fund
The
NESS
Fund
National Emergency Survivor Support Fund
Due to the volume of applicants, the YWCA Hamilton NESS Fund has reached its capacity and can no longer accept new applications at this time.
National Emergency Survivor Support Fund
In Canada, every 6 days a woman loses her life to gender-based violence. Survivors of gender-based violence frequently say that not having enough money was one of the primary reasons they stayed in abusive situations. Without help to leave, survivors have few options available to them to protect themselves and their families. For survivors who are staying at emergency shelters, a lack of financial resources means their ability to start fresh is still at risk. Not having money to pay first and last month’s rent or other expenses means that survivors and their families have to stay longer in shelters. This leads to many shelters not having enough space, forcing them to turn survivors and their children away.
So, we’re taking action.
To meet one of the most frequent and urgent needs voiced by survivors, YWCA Canada, in partnership with YWCA Hamilton launched Canada’s first National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (the NESS Fund). This initiative provides women, gender-diverse people and their families with financial support to leave unsafe homes or emergency shelters/precarious housing situations and begin their healing journeys.
I need to access support
YWCA’s NESS Fund provide one-time financial support to survivors of gender-based violence to help them leave abusive living conditions, emergency shelters or precarious living situations like staying temporarily with friends/family or living unhoused.
The fund is open to women, trans, Two-Spirit or gender-diverse people who are 16 years of age or older. Applicants must be seeking support to leave abusive living conditions, leave emergency shelters or precarious housing conditions (staying with family/friends; couch-surfing or living unhoused) they were accessing as a result of experiencing violence.
Gender-based violence is an umbrella term describing harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. This includes domestic violence and abuse, intimate-partner violence and family violence.
The fund is intended to help survivors to leave violence and establish safe, stable housing. You can apply for help with:
- First and last month’s rent;
- Rental arears that prevent you from signing a new lease;
- Set up expenses for utilities;
- Utilities (hydro, internet, phone) arrears that prevent you from setting up new utilities contracts;
- Moving expenses;
- Storage expense;
- Essential furniture for a new home;
- Travel expenses (Bus, train, flight costs) .
- Gender-affirming care and services as needed by trans, Two-Spirit or gender-diverse people;
- Expenses related to attaining permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship; and/or,
- Other essential expenses related to leaving violence and establishing safe, stable housing.
To apply for the YWCA NESS Fund, please contact:
Amanda Wansbrough
Transitional Housing Support Worker
awansbrough@ywcahamilton.org
905-527-2238
Yes, please contact:
Amanda Wansbrough
Transitional Housing Support Worker
awansbrough@ywcahamilton.org
905-527-2238
Support the NESS fund
You can help provide a way out for survivors.
Right now, the project is equipped to provide 1500 grants over the next 4 years in 12 regions across the country. We know we need to do much more to meet the needs of survivors nationwide.
By donating, you’re standing with survivors.
Looking for ways your company, workplace or community group can support? Please contact:
Heather Barkley
Director of Philanthropy
905-522-9922 ext. 156
hbarkley@ywcahamilton.org
SURVIVORS ASKED.
WE ACTED.
