DELTA — The Christy Clark government is putting vulnerable women and children at further risk by refusing to fund a transition house in Delta, say the New Democrats.

The transition house would provide safe space for women and children fleeing domestic violence and the need in Delta is great. A similar facility in nearby Richmond is turning women and children away in shockingly high numbers.

“Despite the District of Delta donating a house and a dedicated working group securing federal funding to renovate it, Christy Clark’s government refuses to do its part by coming to the table with operational funding,” said New Democrat spokesperson on housing, David Eby. “Funding of this sort is in the mandate of B.C. Housing; this government needs to recognize that this transition house is of the highest priority.”

The Working Group for a Delta Transition House for Women and Children Fleeing Family Violence says months of negotiating with B.C. Housing ended abruptly and efforts to arrange a meeting with the minister responsible have gone unanswered. The group has until the end of November to get the province on board or it risks losing the federal grant.

“This is a critically important project for women and children at risk in Delta,” said New Democrat health spokesperson, Judy Darcy. “Christy Clark talks about protecting women from violence but when it comes down to it she won’t fund the programs, shelters and transitions houses needed to do it.”

Read the letter from Judy Darcy and David Eby to Housing Minister Rich Coleman here: Letter re: Delta transition house.