Rising grocery costs are forcing domestic violence shelters in Nova Scotia to shift money from other needs and seek more donations to keep women and children fed, CBC News reports.

A new Women’s Shelters Canada report, based on responses from 239 shelter organizations and transition houses across the country, found that 75 per cent said ensuring enough food had become more difficult over the previous year. Another 96 per cent said their communities were facing a food insecurity crisis.

At Bryony House, executive director Rachel Shepherd estimated food costs had risen at least 25 per cent over the past year, according to reporting by CBC’s Celina Aalders. The shelter can accommodate 40 women and children and provides three meals a day plus snacks.

Shepherd said provincial funding does not cover the grocery bill. Bryony House relies on local charities and Feed Nova Scotia, which delivers food three times a week. Staff have also introduced weekly crockpot cooking classes for outreach clients to help them prepare inexpensive meals.

The financial pressure extends beyond shelter operations. Shepherd said the cost of supporting a household can be a barrier for people considering leaving an abusive relationship.

At Cape Breton Transition House, director Jodi McDavid said grocery spending had already reached $35,000, compared with annual spending of $27,000 in recent years. She has reallocated money, applied for grants and cut back on holiday gifts and staff training to afford food.

McDavid said some residents arrive hungry after living in poverty, while others have had food restricted by an abuser as a means of control.

Both shelters received thousands of dollars through a provincial initiative directing profits from American alcohol sales to charities and food programs. Their directors described the money as a major one-time boost but worried about operating without it the following year.

Provincial spokesperson Nicole MacDonald told CBC that Nova Scotia has no dedicated food-security funding stream for women’s shelters. She pointed to a $17.9-million investment in 2025 to stabilize operations at 10 transition houses and address living costs, alongside $17.6 million in annual core funding for transition houses and women’s centres.

Shepherd said survivors need sustained help as they rebuild their lives, not just support when they first leave abuse.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. People affected by family or intimate partner violence can also seek help through crisis lines and local support services.

Sources