Our Research

As part our mission to improve the lives of women, girls, Two Spirit, and gender diverse people, YWCA Halifax is committed to conducting meaningful, intersectional research to shed light on pressing issues of gender justice and promote action.

Some key topics you will find in our research below include: sexual exploitation and human trafficking, intimate partner violence, the importance of safe housing, and workplace safety for women and gender diverse people.

YWCA Halifax Research

Experts by Experience (EX2): Emphasizing Peer Learning for Newcomer Supports
The Experts by Experience project addresses the needs of newcomer women and families in Nova Scotia. In this three-year pilot, the goal was to strengthen settlement services using a peer-led model by harnessing the skills of newcomer women. The project emphasizes peer learning, promoting information exchange among individuals with commonalities, and aims to build a supportive community…
Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment in the Skilled Trades in Nova Scotia
The Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment (SGBH) in Skilled Trades project conducted a survey and follow-up interviews to learn about the prevalence of workplace sexual and gender-based harassment in the skilled trades sector in Nova Scotia, it’s impact on women and gender diverse people, and the underlying organizational cultures contributing to this issue…
Safer Spaces White Papers Series: Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Nova Scotia
The 2019 to 2024 “Safer Spaces” project presents six white papers to demonstrate the scope of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Nova Scotia, and to propose informed solutions. Topics include the importance of a community network, understanding the types of sexual exploitation, how youth become caught in the sex trade, different types of perpetration and predation, the need for safe housing, and what it means to engage in “first voice” consultations…
When the Roof Falls In: How Violence Impacts Housing Stability
“When the Roof Falls In” is a 2020 to 2021 collaborative research project between four partnership organizations that identifies intersections of gender-based violence and housing insecurity. Through partnership focus groups, in-depth interviews with eleven frontline workers, and a meaning making session with participants and stakeholders, the project identified four dominant themes related to housing insecurity for women experiencing violence…