In Canada, every two 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 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 the 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.
For years, we’ve taken action. YWCA Canada launched the National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (NESS Fund)—the first of its kind in Canada. The fund provides a one-time financial grant along with wraparound supports to help survivors escape violence and begin rebuilding their lives. Since its launch in 2022, the NESS Fund has supported over 3,000 women in fleeing dangerous situations and finding safety.
While the founding funding for the program is expiring in December 2025, we remain actively engaged in seeking replacement funding, and many YWCAs will continue delivering this essential program through locally sourced support, a testament to its lasting value and impact.
About The NESS Fund
YWCA’s NESS Fund provides 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 intended to help survivors to leave violence and establish safe, stable housing. Funds help with:
- First and last month’s rent
- Rental arears that may prevent signing a new lease
- Set up expenses for utilities or utilities themselves
- Moving or storage expenses
- Essential furniture for a new home
- 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
- Other essential expenses related to leaving violence and establishing safe, stable housing.
The YWCA NESS Fund has run successfully in 14 distinct YWCA locations across Canada.
Eligibility
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.
