Mr. Speaker, for the past 10 years, Aurora House has provided safe transitional housing and critical supports quietly, intentionally and necessarily from a confidential location in Beaches—East York for women and families who have experienced human trafficking, exploitation and gender-based intimate partner violence.
Operated by the Mennonite New Life Centre, Aurora House residents regain their footing with the support of a deeply dedicated team that provides trauma-informed care and the tools needed to heal and rebuild lives. However, the important work they do is at risk. As Erin Horrocks-Pope, project manager for Aurora House, put it, “As charitable giving declines and competition among many deserving organizations increases, the work they do has become, though no less critical, increasingly difficult to sustain.”
Late last year, Aurora House launched a new campaign: “Safety. Dignity. Stability.” It aims to raise $100,000 for urgent capital upgrades and to maintain operations that support families 365 days a year. I am confident our east-end community will step up to support Aurora House's life-saving work ensuring that women and children fleeing violence have a safe and dignified place to rebuild their lives.