Gender-based violence housing support failed one Nova Scotia survivor when she needed it most. After escaping an abusive relationship, she waited six months to receive emergency housing help designed for people in her situation.
She remembers her partner dragging her by the hair across broken glass on the apartment floor. As she reached out for support, nothing was there. That night became one of the most brutal assaults she survived.
“He threw me around like a rag doll,” she said. “I just remember seeing everything broken.” Her ex now faces several assault charges. However, she believes the attack could have ended her life.
After escaping the relationship, she turned to a Nova Scotia program that provides gender-based violence housing support. Despite needing immediate help, officials denied her application several times. Only after six months of advocacy from support groups and her MLA did the province finally approve her request.
Throughout that wait, she stayed in the same apartment where the abuse occurred. She stopped working, received a PTSD diagnosis, and began trauma therapy. A police risk assessment marked her as high risk of being killed by her former partner. Meanwhile, unpaid bills piled up as she searched for safety.
To get help, she contacted Bryony House, Welcome Housing, and Dartmouth North MLA Susan Leblanc. Together, they applied to the provincial benefit offering up to $1,400 per month in gender-based violence housing support. Unfortunately, the application stalled.
Emails revealed that officials denied her because she hadn’t moved yet and was already receiving a $600 rent supplement. Even though she faced eviction and couldn’t afford a safer home, the department told her she didn’t qualify for the increased support.
Leblanc believes this situation reveals systemic flaws. “It traps people in violent homes,” she said. “Delays like this prevent survivors from escaping danger.”
Eventually, the woman received approval in January after months of emails, phone calls, and coordination. She now lives in a secure apartment and receives full benefits from the provincial program.
“I had to fight for every step,” she said. “Without support, I would have remained just another number in the system.”
Housing Minister Colton LeBlanc declined to comment directly on the case. However, department spokesperson Amy Wagg admitted the delay was unacceptable. She stated that most complete applications take one to two weeks to process, with average monthly benefits around $1,110.
Since launching in July, the gender-based violence housing support program has helped 245 people. As of now, 74 applications remain under review, while 47 have been rejected due to missing information or overlap with other supports.
In March, Leblanc raised the issue in the legislature. Premier Tim Houston acknowledged the failure. “This looks like a case where we missed the mark,” he said.
Following public pressure, the department implemented several changes. It assigned a dedicated case manager, improved communication with referral partners, and added flexibility to handle unique situations. However, these changes only came after months of advocacy and one survivor’s exhausting fight for safety.
The woman hopes others won’t face the same uphill battle for gender-based violence housing support. “I survived, but I shouldn’t have had to fight so hard for help,” she said.
