The Transition House Association is calling on government to take immediate action, and for each of the parties to commit to an increase in operational funding for transition houses across the province.

Provincial coordinator Dan Meades says a crisis was created when the province negotiated wage increases for shelter staff, however core funding to shelters has not been adjusted to make up the difference – meaning many shelters have had to cut programming and sell off assets to make up the difference.

“The result has been that we’ve had to take all of our operational funding, that’s stuff that should be used for diapers, for groceries, for keeping the lights on, answering the phones, all those things to pay those staff. It’s no problem, we’re happy to pay those staff what they’re worth, the problem is we can no longer afford to do it. In certain places, we’ve got 104 per cent of the entire operating budget from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador going just to wages.”

John Hogan responds

John Hogan says he and his party are committed to addressing the financial issues raised.

But, he says, it goes further than simply providing added funding.

“Yes, it’s easy to cut a cheque for sure,” says Hogan, “but I think there’s a bit of a piecemeal approach to this, and I think government needs to play a role in making sure that transitional houses are doing what they’re supposed to do, and there’s enough of them for people in this province.”