These domestic violence shelters can hardly keep up with the cost of groceries

At Nova Scotia’s largest shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence, many clients arrive at the door having made the decision to leave a dangerous situation, while not necessarily knowing where their next meal will come from.

“It’s very difficult to raise a family or even be on your own as a single woman,” said Rachel Shepherd, executive director of Bryony House. “And so it’s a big factor and it’s a big barrier for people considering accessing services or leaving an abusive relationship.” 

While the cost of living soars and survivors of abuse face the daunting task of trying to start fresh, the people who run women’s shelters are finding it increasingly difficult to ensure their residents have enough to eat.

A new report by Women’s Shelters Canada surveyed shelter organizations and transition houses across the country about how the high cost of groceries is impacting their operations.

Among the 239 respondents, 96 per cent of shelters feel their community is facing a food insecurity crisis, while 75 per cent said it’s become more difficult over the past year to make sure there’s enough food to go around.

“That financial pressure that they’re feeling is really putting strain on the workers,” said Robyn Hoogendam, senior research and policy manager at Women’s Shelters Canada. “They’re having to do more to fundraise, to build new partnerships and anything else that’ll just ensure that food keeps coming into the shelter.” 

Hoogendam said while there have been significant investments in gender-based violence initiatives, particularly since the Mass Casualty Commission that examined Nova Scotia’s 2020 mass shooting, funding is not keeping pace with inflation. 

At Bryony House, which can house 40 women and children at a time, residents are given three meals per day, plus snacks. Shepherd estimates their food costs have increased at least 25 per cent over the past year. 

She said funding from the provincial government is not enough to cover their groceries. The shelter relies on donations from Feed Nova Scotia — which delivers to Bryony House three times per week — and other local charities. 

Shepherd said staff are finding ways to get creative. They’ve started a food program for outreach clients where they gather for weekly crockpot cooking classes and try to “make a meal on a dime.” 

At the Cape Breton Transition House, director Jodi McDavid said food is important because many women and children arrive at the shelter already hungry. Some survivors have been living in poverty, while others have had their access to food limited by their abusers as a form of control. 

McDavid said in recent years, the shelter spent $27,000 annually on groceries, but this year they’ve already spent $35,000. She’s had to reallocate money and apply for more grants as a result. 

Jodi McDavid, director of Cape Breton Transition House, says they’ve already gone well over budget for groceries this year. (Kyle Moore/CBC)

“We go around, try to trim the fat, right? But there’s not a lot of fat in a non-profit,” said McDavid. “So you just kind of look at other things where you’re like, ‘OK…feeding people is more important than Christmas.’” 

She said cutting back on holiday gifts and staff training are among the hard decisions she’s had to make to afford groceries.

Both Bryony House and the Cape Breton Transition House received thousands of dollars from a provincial initiative that saw profits of American alcohol sales go toward local charities and food programs.

They said it was a massive one-time boost, but worry that things will be even tighter next year without the extra cash.

A spokesperson for the Department of Opportunities and Social Development and the Nova Scotia Status of Women Office said “we recognize that rising food costs are creating real pressures for women, families and the organizations that support them.” 

“While the province doesn’t have a dedicated food-security funding stream specifically for women’s shelters, we are responding to the rising costs these organizations face,” said Nicole MacDonald in a statement. 

She pointed to a $17.9 million investment in 2025 to stabilize operations at 10 transition houses and respond to the cost of living. MacDonald said that’s in addition to $17.6 million annually in core funding for transition houses and women’s centres to cover salaries, staffing levels and operating costs. 

But for those on the front lines, it feels like more money is always needed.

Shepherd and McDavid said it’s not just about supporting women as they flee from an abusive situation, but also in the months and years that follow as they work to rebuild their lives and provide for their families.

“We need long-term support for survivors of intimate partner violence, and it’s not going to suffice to just have one year or maybe two years of support,” said Shepherd.

“It’s a long-term commitment that we need to make to women so they can stay on their feet — not just get on their feet — but stay on their feet.” 

For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. ​​If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help:

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