EDUCATED, EMPLOYED, BUT STILL NOT EQUAL 

 

Halifax — 2011 marks the centenary year for International Women's Day - 100 years since women used this day to claim their rights and demand equality.  Canadian women have been narrowing the gender gap in terms of employment numbers and have reversed the gender gap in higher education. Unfortunately, social policy regarding child care has not progressed at the same rate.  The absence of a national plan for child care services is decades behind reality, according to a new report from YWCA Canada, the nation’s oldest and largest women’s service provider.

Educated, Employed and Equal: The Economic Prosperity Case for National Child Care documents the revolutions in women’s employment and education since the 1970s. The Canadian government has fallen short. Instead of a national policy creating comprehensive early learning and child care services, the federal government has left a policy vacuum. “On the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day, the evidence is in. Women’s lives have changed. A national plan for quality affordable early learning and child care services is not a luxury, a frill or a threat to Canadian families,” says Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada. 

The employment rate for women with children under three increased 233 per cent between 1976 and 2009, and women moved from 32 per cent of university graduates in 1971 to 60 per cent by 2006.  Yet in 2008, Canada had regulated child care spaces for 18.6% of children under 12. Nova Scotia lags behind the national average, with regulated child care spaces for less than 13% of children under the age of 12.  The most significant challenge for families in accessing quality early learning is most often experienced when searching for infant or toddler care.

“Families will often to put themselves on the wait list for infant care spaces when they are just considering starting a family, as the wait list for childcare spaces is months, if not years,” says Tanis Crosby, executive director of the YWCA Halifax. “It is not unheard of for child care centres to have wait lists that number well over 100 families.” A national plan to ensure comprehensive access to quality, affordable early learning and child care services essential to Canadian prosperity, a crucial support for children and parents and a common sense response to a changed society.

 

YWCA is Keeping a Roof Over Their Heads

Halifax –YWCA Halifax will take to the airwaves on Friday, November 19th from 6am – 6pm on 96.5 KOOL FM to raise funds for housing programs for homeless women in Halifax Regional Municipality.Each year the YWCA provides over 12,500 bednights to women and families, who otherwise would be homeless.

“We are helping women who face multiple barriers to remaining housed,” says Tanis Crosby, Executive Director, YWCA Halifax. “Safe and stable housing is the first step many of these women will take towards getting their lives back on track.”

The Keep a Roof Over Their Heads radiothon is presented by Scotiabank and raises funds for two core housing programs to alleviate and prevent homelessness among women, Women in Supported Housing (WISH) and HERizons. Donations may be made by phoning the radiothon at (902) 407-8666, by secure on-line donation at www.keeparoof.com, or in person in the lobby of Scotiabank at Mic Mac Mall.

WISH serves 24 women in rental units across Halifax Regional Municipality. All of these clients have experienced multiple episodes of homelessness, with approximately 50 % having been homeless at least three times in the past five years. 100 % are mental health consumers and 100 % have experienced abuse. WISH provides a fully furnished one bedroom apartment and services such as financial stewardship, budgeting, counselling and service navigation, and advocacy support.

HERizons is a six-unit complex that houses single mothers who are attending post secondary education. In Nova Scotia 67.3 % of single mothers live below the low-income cut off, making it impossible for them to complete their education and provide for their children.

The YWCA of Halifax is a charitable organization established in 1874 that is dedicated to providing services by and for women. The YWCA of Halifax provides programs for women at critical turning points in their lives including financial literacy programs, leadership development for young women, childcare, and residence and support services for women in transition. For additional information about the YWCA Halifax, please visit www.ywcahalifax.com.


Putting YWCA on the Map in Spryfield  -  Friday, October 22, 2010

Halifax –YWCA Halifax is pleased to announce the location of a new licensed child care centre in Spryfield at 336 Herring Cove Road. The new child care centre is expected to open in the summer of 2012 and will be licensed for 57 full-time children.

“We chose to build our new child care centre in Spryfield because this area has no licensed child care—and hasn’t for a number of years,” says Tanis Crosby, Executive Director, YWCA Halifax. “Access to affordable and convenient childcare is crucial to a woman’s ability to stay employed and to fully participating in life.”

An official announcement will be today at 5:15 pm at a community celebration at the Captain William Spry Community Centre. The community celebration is the culmination of the YWCA Power of Being a Girl conference and YWCA Canada Eastern Regional meetings, with participants from both events in attendance.

The new childcare centre is expected to open in the summer of 2012.

The YWCA of Halifax is a charitable organization established in 1874 that is dedicated to providing services by and for women.  The YWCA of Halifax provides programs for women at critical turning points in their lives including financial literacy programs, leadership development for young women, childcare, and residence and support services for women in transition.

For further information:

Anita Hovey
Manager, Fund Development and Communications
P. 902.423.6162 x269
C. 902.420.3702
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