Nova Vita celebrates 40 years of transforming lives The Power of 100

Presented by 100 People Who Care Brant

This month’s focus: Nova Vita

AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY GIVING CYCLE, MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL GIVING CIRCLE 100 PEOPLE WHO CARE BRANT ARE INVITED TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OR NON-PROFIT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE COLLECTIVE DONATIONS FROM OUR GROUP. IN THIS NEW MONTHLY COLUMN, WE WILL SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THE WORK AND COMMUNITY EVENTS OFFERED BY NOMINEES WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF OUR DONATIONS. JULY’S FOCUS IS ON NOVA VITA

On the night of June 9, 1983, Nova Vita opened its doors for the very first time, welcoming a woman and her two children into safety. This marked the beginning of an enduring legacy of support and care for women experiencing abuse Over the past four decades, Nova Vita has evolved from a simple shelter into a multifaceted organization providing a wide range of services to meet the community’s needs

From that first night, Nova Vita’s commitment to offering sanctuary and support has only deepened. Today, the organization boasts 33 emergency shelter beds, 8 transitional housing units, children’s programming, adult counseling, outreach support, public education, volunteer opportunities, and more The growth of these programs reflects a profound response to the escalating needs within the community.

“Over 25,000 individuals and families experiencing violence, abuse, and homelessness have accessed our services since we first opened our doors 40 years ago,” a Nova Vita representative shared, highlighting the impact of their work.

As Nova Vita reflects on “40 Years of Hope,” the organization expresses gratitude for the unwavering support of the community. This support is seen as vital to achieving Nova Vita’s vision for a world free from violence, where individuals, relationships, families, and communities are safe, empowered, and healthy

The path to this vision was illuminated last fall when the City of Brantford and the County of Brant joined over 95 communities across Ontario in declaring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and GenderBased Violence (GBV) an epidemic This declaration arrives at a critical juncture, as the community grapples with increasingly complex issues stemming from mental health and addiction struggles, an affordable housing crisis, and the rising cost of living. Furthermore, the stark reality is that in Canada, one woman or girl is killed every 48 hours, according to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability.

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