as published in the EWA Newsletter V.7 #1 - Winter 1996 The theme of this issue of Education Wife Assault's Newsletter is the impact of cutbacks to social services in Ontario on assaulted women. This
Newsletter was produced in co-operation with the Metro Woman Abuse Council and OAITH. In return for their contributions, they will receive copies of this Newsletter to distribute to their members.
This
Newsletter includes articles that span a number of aspects of the issue, including: an article about the increasing numbers of women remaining with, or returning to, abusive partners; groups that have been resisting the
cutbacks to social programs; the myths of the deficit; and resources available on the cutbacks. In addition, an article from the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) details the
experiences of shelter residents and workers in the face of cutbacks.
Due to funding cutbacks (100% of our core Ministry of Community and Social Services funding was cut back on December 31, 1995) in our own agency,
we have experienced directly the immense challenges of serving, with limited and insufficient resources, assaulted women and those who have contact with them.
In the past year, we have necessarily seen our staff
complement reduce by 2 Full Time Equivalent Staff positions. We have also been forced to concentrate greater staff time on projects for which funding is available - yet daily demands for our services remain at
their previous levels. Needless to say, the process of juggling demands has been challenging (and, at times, exhausting) for EWA's volunteers, Board and Staff.
Yet we continue our efforts to, through
education, reduce woman abuse and the impact it has on children. With continued support from our clients, members, donors and volunteers - we hope to outlast this trend of government cutbacks. Thank
you to all of you for your ongoing support.
