Portage's Prairie Harbour to get funding after 8-year wage freeze

Manitoba is providing some funding for Portage la Prairie's Prairie Harbour shelter for abused women. 

Executive director Kimberly Lavallee says it's already been promised, but there is a delay.

"The announcement was made but then we received word from Family Violence last week that the MLAs didn't pass the budget prior to going on summer break," explains Lavallee. "But we're assured that it will happen when they resume in the fall. It's to increase salaries that would be comparable to other types of agencies. We haven't received a funding increase for over eight years. So, it's to raise salaries for staff. Our salaries were lower than other staff doing the same type of work with differently funded organizations -- non-profits."

She explains the funding is to pay for a web-based chat line along with the ability to provide two staff on each shift at the shelters. 

"This is now bringing the salaries up to a 2020 comparable rate," notes Lavallee. "So, it's still a few years behind, but a lot better than it was," notes Lavallee. "We're not increasing the capacity of the shelter, so that certainly won't increase, but our annual increase for the next year would be about $300,000."

She adds they're excited and hoping this funding will happen soon.