Status of Women committee  Here, in a city like Ottawa, we transitional support workers connect women to legal aid and lawyers. We will even go with them to lawyers. I have to say, though, that many of our women won't report. They won't access the family law system around custody access, but we do give them the options.

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  I was listening to you, and I think you said, how do we empower women to make these choices? Is that what your question was?

Status of Women committee  I was sitting here listening to that, and I thought we need the resources. It's not even just programs and supports. If we're going to talk about this, I always like to dream big. Let's make more housing. Let's have more housing options available. The practical things need to be in place for them to be empowered to make those choices.

Status of Women committee  Yes, we have our grandmas.

Status of Women committee  All of a sudden, I'm going through every single client I've ever worked with. That's what you saw me doing there. But also just knowing.... I could speak to what I think some of the issues are. It's kind of for everyone, but the senior women are being uprooted from their communities and coming here, and not having services in their language, things like that.

Status of Women committee  No, I haven't heard about buying homes. I don't know of any clients who have left our shelter and bought homes. There are new initiatives in the province for what's called portable housing programs. If the woman is receiving income through social assistance, the province will top up a minimal amount.

Status of Women committee  Okay.

Status of Women committee  I am Shar Chowdhury, and I am a transitional support worker at Minwaashin Lodge here in Ottawa, which is attached to our indigenous women's shelter, Oshki Kizis Lodge. I am speaking here on behalf of our ED, Mary Daoust, and our shelter director, Frances Daly. I've been working in this position for 16 years.