Strengthening family violence response

Albertans deserve access to help they can rely on during a crisis. Through the new Emergency Family Violence Services program, Alberta's government is investing almost $62 million to improve access to supports and services for Albertans when and where they need them the most.

Over the past two years, Alberta's government has had many opportunities to meet with service providers to discuss their concerns and challenges. The new program reflects what we have heard from our partners through these engagements: people experiencing family violence need access to flexible supports in places they feel safest, whether that is at home, in their community or in a shelter. The Emergency Family Violence Services program establishes a needs-based funding allocation approach which would help address service demand and capacity concerns, define core emergency family violence services and encourage regional collaboration and innovation across the province.

"Women's shelters provide critical supports to Albertans during some of the most difficult moments in their lives, and I want to thank them for the important work they do. Through the Emergency Family Violence Services program, we are making it easier for Albertans to access help in ways that work best for them and their families, while continuing to strengthen existing programs."

As part of the program, Alberta is investing $4 million over three years, through a capital grant pilot, to help shelters address urgent building repairs, renovations and safety upgrades.

"Domestic violence is a complex issue. Organizations like FearIsNotLove are committed to investing in both intervention - through women's shelters - as well as prevention through evidence-based programs like Men&, which work to change behaviours and prevent violence before it occurs.We welcome this new funding framework, which will further empower organizations engaged in domestic violence intervention and prevention to support individuals at the highest risk of experiencing or using violence, threatening the public safety of every Albertan."

The Emergency Family Violence Service program also introduces a modernized approach to provincewide data collection, which will provide insight into service demand, capacity and outcomes.

Budget 2026 focuses on what matters, makes disciplined choices and takes decisive action.

Quick facts

• Alberta invests more than $188 million in gender-based violence prevention across the province, advancing Building on Our Strengths: Alberta's 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence.
  • This includes more than $93 million invested into the prevention of family and sexual violence, which includes women's shelters and sexual assault centres, to help individuals and families get the support they need.
• Children and Family Services supports 31 women's emergency shelters, 19 second-stage shelters, two alternative service delivery models, five fee-for-service shelters in First Nations communities and the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters.

Related information

• Family violence prevention | Alberta.ca