Emergent Women and Children's Fund ~

An initiative dedicated to providing essential needs to women and children.

The Emergent Women and Children’s Fund aims to provide direct resources and essential needs to women and children who face a variety of significant challenges. Women and their families who flee from abusive relationships and unsafe homes often encounter difficulties relating to housing, food, mental health, and economic uncertainties which can compound an already devastating situation. This immediate support can be life saving, keeping women and their families housed, safe, and secure.

Through this fund, we partner with YWCA Regina and Coordinated Access Regina to provide essential resources and support directly to our community’s most vulnerable women and children, enabling them to overcome obstacles, avoid or escape homelessness, and thrive. By supporting the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund, you are providing invaluable resources to women and their families, and giving them hope for a better future.

Recognizing the Emergent Need

Within Saskatchewan, there are some alarming statistics relating to intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender based violence (GBV), which is one of the leading factors which results in homelessness.¹

Canada:

346 per 100k

Saskatchewan:

742 per 100k

Women and children face many barriers when they are trying to leave abusive situations — including high housing costs, lowered or restricted access to money and resources, mental health supports, and more. To ensure women and their children do not return to unsafe living situations, having access to adequate housing supports is crucial.

1. Grafton, E., Fletcher, A. J., Giesbrecht, C. J., & Marchment, T. (2024). Addressing gender-based violence in Saskatchewan through second-stage housing: an overview of research and setting new directions. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 9(1), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.376

A story of emergent need.

A mother and her children were left financially desperate when her abusive partner left them. At the time, she had a job that was 15km away and she needed her car to get to her job. The car broke down and needed a simple $250 repair, but because the mother was suddenly responsible for the additional half of rent payments after her partner left, she did not have the $250 needed to fix the car.

This created a snowball effect. She lost her job for not being able to show up, meaning she lost her only source of income. Because she had no job, she could not pay for rent and lost her home. She ended up in a transition house and ended up losing her children because she could not provide for them.

Ultimately, $250 cost a mother her car, job, home, and children.

Abusive Partner Leaving Suddenly

Mother Paying Full Portion of Rent

Can't Afford $250 Car Repair

Can't Commute to Job 15km Away

Lost Her Job and Source of Income

Can't Her Pay Rent and Lost Her Home

No Home Resulted in Losing Her Children

What Inspired the Emergent Women and Children's Fund

Our Executive Director, Donna Ziegler, learned that there is a significant need for quick and accessible funding to help cover basic costs for women and families on the brink of, or who are currently experiencing, homelessness. Currently, there is a lack of adequate funding avenues to help people cover basic costs, such as utility bills, rent arrears, transportation, and communication, that are crucial to keep someone employed, housed, and safe during their most critical moments. Through conversations with YWCA Regina and other organizations, this fund was established.

She is no longer homeless and in a more stable financial position to stay housed.

Second Annual CommUNITY for Women Breakfast a Fluttering Success

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We Need Your Help for Sustainable Support

The funding needed to stay safe and housed are not easily available for those fleeing challenging situations. Emergent funding for simple basic needs can be life-changing for women and children in times of need. Instead of facing homelessness, it can help people stay on track to find safety and stability. It can truly save lives.

Since 2024, the Community Foundation has partnered with YWCA Regina and RaiseHER Co. to host the CommUNITY for Women Breakfast Event. This annual fundraising event is an opportunity to bring the community together to uplift and inspire each other to make a meaningful impact.

All proceeds from this event go towards the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund to directly support those facing housing, food, mental health, and economic challenges. Your support, during the event or otherwise, empowers women to be hopeful of a better future.

Stories of Support

Ashlee’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

Ashlee is a devoted mother of five who has always worked hard to give her children a safe and loving home. But after the birth of her youngest child, life became overwhelming. Without access to childcare benefits and still recovering from childbirth, Ashlee found herself falling behind on rent and utility bills. She was doing everything she could, but it wasn't enough. With the power company threatening to shut off her electricity, she began to feel like her hard work had been for nothing.

Ashlee described feeling lost and hopeless as the weight of unpaid bills loomed over her. That changed when she received $1,444 through the Emergent Women and Children's Fund. The support made an immediate difference; she was able to pay her rent and keep the lights on. More than just financial relief, it brought her peace of mind, dignity, and a renewed sense of stability.

Thanks to this support, Ashlee now feels safer, more connected to community resources, and confident in her ability to care for her children. What once felt like an impossible burden has turned into a path forward. "I'll never forget what this support did for us," she shared. "It gave me hope."

Emily’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

My name is Emily, and I recently applied to the Emergent Women and Children's Fund for support. I was granted $2,000 to help cover the costs of furnishing my home after leaving supportive housing.

This funding meant so much more than just furniture, it helped me and my three kids finally turn an empty space into a real home. We were able to get the essentials we needed to live comfortably, to sit down together for meals, to rest in our own beds, and to feel safe in a space that is truly ours.

Since receiving the funding, my life feels completely different. I feel safer, more stable, and better able to care for my own children. For the first time in a long time, I feel respected, connected to the community, and confident in the path we're on. Most importantly, I feel hopeful about the future.

As a young, single, sober mom moving out of supportive housing into independent living, this funding gave me and my children the chance to make a fresh start. It allowed us to not just move into a house, but to create a home where we can heal and grow together.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you. I am deeply, deeply grateful. I would be honoured to share more about my journey if it can help show the impact this support has on families like mine.

Destinee’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

I’ll never forget the day the power was shut off. My two-year-old son and I sat in the dark, and all I could think was, how did it come to this? I had no money left to pay the bill, and rent was due in just a few days. Then the eviction notice came. I felt completely helpless. I tried to stay strong for my son, but the fear of losing our home was overwhelming. It felt like everything was slipping away—our safety, our routine, our stability.

That’s when my support worker told me about the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund. I applied, not knowing what would happen, but it gave me a glimmer of hope. When I found out I had been approved for $2,000 to help cover my rent and utilities, I cried. Real, gut-deep relief. This support changed everything. I was able to turn the power back on, pay our rent, and most importantly, breathe again. I didn’t have to choose between keeping a roof over our heads and feeding my child. This funding didn’t just keep us housed—it gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: confidence. I feel safer. More secure. I can focus on caring for my son instead of constantly worrying about survival. It reminded me that I’m not alone, and that better days are possible. I don’t know where we’d be without this support. All I know is now, when my son wakes up, he wakes up warm, in his own bed, with a mom who believes we’ll be okay. By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with moving (rent, initial deposit, rental arrears that was preventing her from finding new housing, utilities setup/arrears, moving and transportation). She also used it to purchase necessary furniture as well as kids clothing and school supplies.

The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to find a safe, secure home for herself and her children; she's able to have a fresh start.

Sarah’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

When Sarah learned she had received emergency funding through the Community Foundation's Emergent Women and Children’s Fund, she could not believe it. In that moment, everything shifted. She had been living day to day in fear, knowing she was on her final notice before eviction. With rent and utility arrears piling up and no options left, no more resources to turn to, no family to lean on, this was her last chance at holding onto a safe place to live. “This is so amazing,” she said. “My baby can come home again.” What she received was not just financial support. It was a lifeline.

The emergency funds helped Sarah clear what she owed, covering her rent and utility bills just in time to stop her eviction. That one act of support opened a door she thought had already closed. “I can get sober now,” she shared. “I can stay here, and I won’t be homeless.” Having safe, stable housing gave her the foundation she needed to focus on healing, on her journey of growth, betterment, and becoming the parent she wants to be. After months of surviving in crisis mode, this gift gave her room to breathe and begin again.

“I can get my baby back,” she said through tears. “That’s the big thing.” This was not just about shelter. It was about rebuilding a life. About hope, and the chance to create a safe, loving home. “I was on the verge of a downward spiral,” Sarah admitted. “This just changed everything for me. I’m so thankful.” The Emergent Women and Children’s Fund did more than keep a roof over her head. It gave her the power to stay, to grow, and to reclaim her future.

Karla’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

When Karla was referred to the SSCF Emergent Women and Children’s Fund administered by YWCA Regina, she and her two children were living in a second-stage domestic violence shelter. A full-time student and single mother, Karla was doing everything she could to hold her family together—pursuing her education, caring for her children, and trying to build a life free from violence. But the financial aftermath of fleeing abuse—including rental arrears, utility debt, and unpaid internet bills—threatened her ability to move forward.

This emergency grant helped Karla address those critical gaps. With the support, she paid off past-due rent, cleared utility bills, and restored internet access—an essential resource for her education, her children’s schooling, and staying connected to the outside world.

“Receiving this grant made a huge difference in my life during one of the most difficult times I’ve ever faced,” Karla shared. “Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to secure safe housing for us.”

The grant gave her a bridge out of shelter and into long-term stability. It enabled her to begin rebuilding with dignity and without the looming fear of where they would go next.

“This support helped keep us afloat,” she wrote. “It gave us the chance to start again, to feel a sense of hope, and to know that we’re not alone.”

Today, Karla says things are “much better.” She feels safer, more stably housed, and better able to care for her children. With her debts cleared, she can focus on her studies and on healing.

“This money gave us more than just financial help. It gave us a chance to move forward, to breathe, and to begin building a new chapter with dignity and hope.”

Sarah’s Story (*Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy)

When Sarah learned she had received emergency funding through the SSCF Vital Community Emergent Women and Children’s Fund, she could not believe it. In that moment, everything shifted. She had been living day to day in fear, knowing she was on her final notice before eviction. With rent and utility arrears piling up and no options left, no more resources to turn to, no family to lean on, this was her last chance at holding onto a safe place to live. “This is so amazing,” she said. “My baby can come home again.” What she received was not just financial support. It was a lifeline.

The emergency funds helped Sarah clear what she owed, covering her rent and utility bills just in time to stop her eviction. That one act of support opened a door she thought had already closed. “I can get sober now,” she shared. “I can stay here, and I won’t be homeless.” Having safe, stable housing gave her the foundation she needed to focus on healing, on her journey of growth, betterment, and becoming the parent she wants to be. After months of surviving in crisis mode, this gift gave her room to breathe and begin again.

“I can get my baby back,” she said through tears. “That’s the big thing.” This was not just about shelter. It was about rebuilding a life. About hope, and the chance to create a safe, loving home. “I was on the verge of a downward spiral,” Sarah admitted. “This just changed everything for me. I’m so thankful.” The SSCF Emergent Women and Children’s Fund did more than keep a roof over her head. It gave her the power to stay, to grow, and to reclaim her future. The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to find a safe, secure home for herself and her children; she's able to have a fresh start.