For almost 50 years, Nellie’s has provided shelter, dignity and hope to women and their children. As a community-based feminist organization, which operates within an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework, we are committed to social change through education and advocacy to achieve social justice for all women and their children.
Collectively, we help #BreakTheBias, which happens to be the 2022 International Women’s Day theme.
IWD is celebrated every year in Canada, and in countries around the world, on March 8. It is a day to celebrate inclusivity and diversity by ensuring that no woman is left behind, excluded or silenced. No one government, charity, NGO, corporation, school, women’s network or media outlet is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. The day belongs to all women around the world and is about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action—whatever that looks like globally and at local levels.
It’s more important now than ever to move toward gender justice: the pandemic has led to unprecedent challenges these past two years, with rising rates of domestic violence, increased caregiving demands and widening poverty gaps. It’s been even more difficult for women and gender-diverse people who have faced additional barriers due to racism, immigration status, ableism and financial instability.
At Nellie’s, we work hard to #BreakTheBias every day. Through our client care, recruiting practices and advocacy efforts, we proudly stich the conversation about gender roles and gender equality into the very fabric of our practices, programs and services.
Every job posting, for example, includes the following statement: Nellie’s is committed to the development of an agency that reflects the women it serves. This position is open to all women*. Woman* signifies anyone who self-identifies as female, femme and/or woman. This includes transwomen, cisgender women, non-binary people who identify as femme or female presenting.
And now that we are settling into our beautiful new shelter (after it underwent over two years of construction and renovations), we can do even more. With 40 beds spread out over 22 bedrooms, each with their own bathroom, family units and single women no longer have to share bedrooms with other family units or single women. They have the privacy and safe space they need to work through their trauma and take the steps that are right for them toward the next chapter in their lives. In common areas, all washrooms are gender-neutral, making transwomen and non-binary people feel safer, and more welcomed, in our space.
“The new shelter building will allow us to treat women and their children fleeing violence and homelessness with the dignity they deserve,” says Jyoti Singh, Nellie’s executive director, at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
#BreakTheBias! Help us stand alongside all women and their children as they take positive steps toward the next chapter in their lives. To make a secure online donation, please visit our donation page.
