The Halifax YWCA has established an interest-free loan program for female-identifying people who are leaving or have recently left domestic violence situations in Nova Scotia.

Up to $500 is available per successful applicant, and the YWCA will work with the individual to come up with a flexible and affordable repayment schedule.

The funds can be used for housing-related costs like damage deposits, rent or utility payments/arrears, moving or storage costs and phone or internet bills. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have a source of income (income assistance or other benefits are accepted) and a bank account (or be willing to open one), and if they live outside the HRM, a letter of referral from a local support organization (such as Second Story Women's Centre).

For more information about the December 6th Fund, or to begin the application process, please contact the Second Story Women's Centre at info@secondstory.ca or call 902-640-3044.

Second Story Women's Centre is one of 19 organizations that have received funding from the CUA Community Investment Grant Program!

SSWC is pleased to announce that we will be receiving $1500 in funding that will support the purchase of shelving to make accessing our free menstrual products and basic toiletries an easier and more welcoming experience. This will also give SSWC more storage space for our donated toiletry and menstrual supplies, which will allow us to accept and store larger quantities of donations. We're excited to revamp this system, so watch this space for pictures of our new and improved set-up when everything is in place!

In the meantime, check out the list of menstrual products and toiletries that we are looking for donations of! And a big thank you to South Shore Sexual Health for their recent donation of re-usable pads and menstrual cups, which gives us some environmentally friendlier options to offer.

Due to the pandemic, we won’t be able to physically gather to celebrate International Women's Day this year, but we can still connect virtually!

The theme for IWD2021 is #ChooseToChallenge and the idea is to pick something to challenge in our daily lives going forward that will help advance the fight for equality for women and gender-oppressed people. You can #ChooseToChallenge anything, but some examples are:

“I will celebrate women’s achievements”
“I will forge a gender equal world”
“I will maintain a gender equal mindset”
"I will call out misogyny wherever I encounter it"
"I will listen to and believe women"
"I will hold myself and my peers accountable for our words and behaviour towards women"

Show Us
We want to see what you’re choosing to challenge for #IWD2021! Here’s how to show us:

Download and print SSWC's #ChooseToChallenge sheet, or take a blank piece of paper and write down how or what you will do to #ChooseToChallenge gender inequality in 2021 and beyond. Then take a picture of yourself holding your sign with your hand up, and post it to your social media. Be sure to tag us or send it to us at info@secondstory.ca so we can see you and share your #ChooseToChallenge with everyone!

Do We Still Need International Women's Day?
While you're thinking about what you will #ChooseToChallenge for #IWD2021, take a look at this article from our friends at Women's Centres Connect, with some eye opening stats about why we still need International Women's Day.

Have a look at some of the amazing #ChooseToChallenge pictures that have been sent in