Stable Fund for Violence Support Services

Summary#

This bill would create a provincial fund to help prevent and respond to gender-based violence in Nova Scotia. Its main goal is to give stable, ongoing money to shelters and other groups that support survivors and work on prevention.

• Sets up a fund run by the Minister of Health and Wellness to support groups that address gender-based violence.
• Requires a funding formula that provides steady “core” funding for operations and staff.
• Lists the kinds of work that can be funded, such as shelters, second-stage housing, women’s centres, crisis lines, outreach, advocacy, and prevention.
• Creates a community advisory body with service staff, people with lived experience, and representatives from 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and African Nova Scotian communities to advise on funding amounts.
• Requires a public annual report showing how the fund’s money was spent.
• Funding only flows if the Legislature approves money for it in the provincial budget.

What it means for you#

• Survivors and families

  • More stable funding could keep shelters, crisis lines, and outreach programs open and better staffed.
  • May mean shorter wait times and more consistent support in more places.
  • Advisory voices from diverse communities could lead to more culturally safe services.

• Service organizations (shelters, women’s centres, outreach programs)

  • Could receive predictable, year‑to‑year core funding instead of piecing together short-term grants.
  • Can plan staffing and programs with more certainty (e.g., case managers, crisis line responders, child and youth workers).
  • Will see how funds are tracked in a public annual report.

• Frontline workers

  • More stable jobs and fewer funding gaps could reduce burnout and turnover.
  • Roles like safety coordinators, relief workers, and outreach staff are named as eligible for support.

• Rural and small communities

  • More dependable funding could help keep local services open and reduce the need to travel far for help.

• Taxpayers

  • You would get clearer information each year on how much was spent and on what.
  • Total cost is not set in the bill and will depend on future budgets.

• 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and African Nova Scotian communities

  • Guaranteed seats on the advisory body may help direct funds to gaps these communities face.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

• Any money for the fund would come from the provincial budget if approved by the Legislature.
• The bill does not set a dollar amount or cap. Costs would depend on the funding formula and how many organizations receive support.
• The Minister must publish a yearly report showing how the money was used.

Proponents' View#

• Provides steady, core funding so shelters and support programs can stay open, plan ahead, and meet demand.
• Helps retain trained staff and improve service quality by reducing stop‑and‑start grant cycles.
• Brings lived experience and diverse community voices into funding decisions, improving fairness and fit.
• Increases transparency through a required public spending report each year.
• Responds to the declared intimate partner violence epidemic and follows major public inquiry recommendations.

Opponents' View#

• Sets no clear budget or limit, making long‑term costs uncertain for taxpayers.
• Gives broad discretion to the Minister on what activities and jobs are funded, which some fear could be inconsistent or political.
• May duplicate or add layers to existing funding programs and advisory groups, creating more bureaucracy.
• Focuses on funding services; critics may want more emphasis on prevention results, enforcement, or root causes.
• “Continuous” funding still depends on yearly budget approvals, so support is not guaranteed in future years.