The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre does important work in the community. It shouldn鈥檛 have to beg for uncertain funding to keep its doors open.
Saanich Coun. Ned Taylor has pushed his fellow councillors to lobby the provincial government to fund the centre with stable, predictable dollars. The government should listen to that pitch and loosen the purse strings.
Three years ago, the centre opened the province鈥檚 first integrated clinic, bringing together the Saanich and Victoria police departments, the RCMP, forensic nurse examiners, Island Health and the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre.
It鈥檚 a place where survivors can find support and undergo police interviews and forensic exams in one location. The benefits for someone who has gone through a traumatic experience are obvious.
Its value is reflected in the statistics that show demand for the centre鈥檚 services has increased 124 per cent since it opened.
Unfortunately, that demonstrated need hasn鈥檛 been matched by funding that the centre can rely on. Saanich and other municipalities provide grants to the centre, but even with additional fundraising, it is still a struggle to find the $204,000 that is needed every year.
Last year, the centre鈥檚 crisis line was shut down because there wasn鈥檛 enough money to keep it going.
Taylor and others argue that the centre offers an important health service, which should be funded by the province. Of course, 鈥渉ealth鈥� only begins to describe what the centre provides to survivors.
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre has proven its value. The province should recognize that value with secure funding.
