Keeping Our Community Safe
Individuals experiencing gender-based violence, safety and stability can feel out of reach. Accessing the right supports such as counselling, crisis response, transitional assistance, and programs that help rebuild lives, can make all the difference.
Your support helps ensure survivors of gender-based violence have access to trauma-informed, confidential, and appropriate services that prioritize safety, healing, and long-term recovery.
Together, we can build a community where people impacted by violence are supported, and where everyone has the chance to reclaim their safety and their future.
The Issue
Gender-based violence affects individuals across all communities and remains one of the most urgent and persistent issues in our region.
Survivors often face multiple barriers to safety—limited shelter space, long waitlists, financial instability, and lack of trauma-informed supports.
57%
of women living in poverty experience Gender-Based Violence, in Canada
45%
of child maltreatment investigations, in Ontario, are linked to exposure to intimate partner violence
22%
of women killed by Gender-Based Violence are Indigenous, in Canada
How United Way Helps
We fund programs that provide immediate safety supports and long-term healing services for people experiencing gender-based violence.
Our partners deliver:
- Crisis counselling
- Emotional and practical supports
- Transitional assistance and safety planning
- Healing supports for children and youth
- Programs for men addressing abusive behaviours
- Prevention and early intervention initiatives
We focus on safety, stability, healing, and empowerment.
You Can Help
Survivors deserve safety, dignity, and healing.
Your support ensures accessible, trauma-informed services for all who need them.
Our Community Partnerships
United Way Elgin Middlesex partners with agencies that provide trauma-informed supports, safety planning, and healing-focused programs for individuals experiencing gender-based violence.
We invest $316,500 annually, supporting 4 agencies and 4 programs to ensure survivors can access safe, confidential, and appropriate services.
These partnerships prioritize safety, dignity, and long-term recovery for those impacted by violence.
Being the Change
Survivors to Thrivers Life Stabilization Program
Children’s Program
Children’s Program
To see more on all funded programs follow the link below.
Our Impact
In 2024-2025, United Way–funded programs provided:
456
parents access support when violence was in the home
295
children and youth impacted by intervention
445
clients with an increased sense of safety
Advocacy in Action
United Way Elgin Middlesex works beyond programs to drive lasting change. Through non-partisan advocacy and strong relationships with governments and community organizations, we help shape policies and systems that improve access, strengthen safety, and advance equity across our region.
Open Letter Call on Government of Ontario to Declare Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic:
United Way Elgin Middlesex joined forces with United Ways across Ontario to urge the provincial government to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic. Together, we called for bold action, including a comprehensive plan, adequate funding for supports and shelters, and policies that address the root causes of IPV and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.