Emergent Women and Children's Fund ~

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.

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.

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.”

Her story demonstrates the profound and immediate impact of direct emergency funding—especially when it’s paired with trust, low-barrier access, and a belief in every woman’s right to start again. 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.

She was leaving an abusive relationship, their son has a disability and the fighting triggers him, and the husband wouldn't let her work. She's starting over, needs to get on SIS and start looking for work, she left with only a few bags of clothes for herself and her children.

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.

She is currently living with her brother, and needed to get utilities reconnected and rent paid to keep their housing.

By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with rent, furniture, and a utilities deposit.

The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her avoid eviction and pay off their utilities so they can be turned back on.

She is living on social assistance and is working hard to reduce her rental arrears that accumulated while fleeing with her children from a violent relationship in Manitoba - she fled to Saskatchewan to seek safety and a fresh start with her children. Once her rental arrears debt is paid, she will be able to secure independent housing for her family. They are currently staying at Sofia House.

By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with rental arrears.

The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to have hope of graduating from university in the future as the funding has enabled her and her children to live in safety away from her abuser.

She needs to pay for utilities arrears debt in order to find new, stable housing.

By using this fund she was able to use it for settling her utilities arrears.

The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to leave an abusive relationship and find safe, stable housing for herself and her son after leaving the shelter.

She left an abusive relationship and is staying in a shelter with her children. She needs additional money to find proper housing.

By using this fund she was able to use it for rent as well as the rent deposit.

The impact of having access to these funds has had a positive effect on the family. She has appreciated being able to safely stay in a shelter with her children, but is excited to live in her own home again with her children where they can feel safe.