The provincial government is spending an additional $23.7 million on transition houses, which help people escape intimate partner violence.

Anne de Ste. Croix, the executive director of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS), said they typically get short-term funding and worry at the end of every fiscal year which programs or staff members they may need to cut.

“I think in the nonprofit sector, we are used to being creative with our funding and making it stretch as long as we can. So I think it allows us to go further than survival mode,” said Ste. Croix.

The announcement includes $17.9 million over the next four years, which will be split between 10 transition houses. That was not part of the province’s recent budget.

An additional $5.8 million was redirected from other government departments and will go to funding projects in the sector.

Ste. Croix said the funding will help them expand their programming and offer more outreach.

Although THANS helped about 3500 women and children last year, she said that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Many more people are affected by intimate partner violence. Having more outreach means they can reach more people where they’re at, she said. That’s even more significant for rural communities, where some organizations are supposed to cover larger areas.

She said they will evaluate where they split the money based on the needs of different groups and communities across the province.

Both Premier Tim Houston and Minister Leah Martin made the announcement on Friday, the day before International Women’s Day. Martin is the Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act.

“The need of the moment is significant, so we’re doing what we can to meet some of that need,” said Houston.

NDP MLA Sue LeBlanc said the party has been calling for more funding for groups that deal with intimate partner violence for several years.

“It’s good to finally see it,” said LeBlanc.

Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said the announcement is excellent.

“The work that (these organizations) do is absolutely critical to battle the epidemic that we have when it comes to gender based violence,” said Mombourquette.

Ste. Croix said she was grateful for a meeting with the Premier and other government officials in January, where they requested more sustainable funding. She said this announcement is a step in the right direction and that the government told her they will continue working together.