Gaëlle Fedida, coordinator with L’Alliance des maisons d'hébergement de 2e étape, discusses second stage (SS) shelters for domestic violence survivors and the need for more money from the government to open more SS shelters.

L’Alliance des maisons d'hébergement de 2e étape has asked the government for more money to handle the increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic, but they were not granted the money they asked for. Fedida says with the additional money L’Alliance des maisons d'hébergement de 2e étape asked for would build more SS shelter units for survivors, as an extra 117 units is planned to be built, on top of the current 140 units they have now. Fedida says they asked for an additional $6.5 million to do so. 

She says these SS shelters are vital to help domestic violence, as they help clear space in emergency shelters, which are the first place women go, then after a few months they are moved into these SS shelters. 

Fedida says she's noticed a chance in domestic violence during the pandemic, that not only are there more cases, but she says the severity of cases are more intense, and in many cases, many survivors wait the last moment to leave their abuser. 

This interview was used for the previous episode of Local 514, which looks at the rise in domestic violence in Quebec during the pandemic and the barriers survivors face in escaping these situations. Within 8 weeks, 8 women have died from domestic violence in Quebec. Femicides are generally seen at much lower rates provincially. On average, Quebec records 12 femicides per year. Currently the amount of femicides in 2021 are at 10, with a death just days ago in the South Shore. To watch the full episode click here.