Survivors of sexual assault have experienced a very unique type of violence. As one of the witnesses indicated, there are multiple intersecting layers of oppression, organized crime and potential acts of violence by family members, people close to them or intimate partners. An organization like Shelter Movers does not take into account the type of crime survivors have experienced. Our job is to acknowledge that they're experiencing abuse and get them out of the home as quickly and efficiently as possible.
As I mentioned in my opening statement, I do believe that a system that oversimplifies the experience of survivors will cost our taxpayers more and will serve survivors less well. A system that is shelter-centred as opposed to survivor-centred will also put an undue burden on shelters and transition homes, which are expected to do everything for survivors as best they can. An investment in the survivors' service ecosystem, acknowledging the 30-plus organizations that operate in many communities, is a more cost-effective and more specialized way of responding to the nuanced needs of survivors.