By Chris Brown

Support for survivors

Government invests in Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

May 6, 2021 | 11:44 AM

The provincial government is investing another $50,000 to support sexual assault survivors in Alberta.

The one-time investment is being made in the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS). It’s in addition to the regular operational funding of $183,000.

Since launching in May 2019, Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence has seen an increase in calls for support, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional funding for AASAS, which is behind the help line, will ensure that the One Line is able to support as many Albertans as possible.

“This funding is so important – because people need Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence more than ever before,’ says Deb Tomlinson, CEO of Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services, in a release “During states of emergency, like a global pandemic, rates of sexual violence rise. Between January and March 2021, the line experienced a 67 per cent increase in texts, calls and chats from the same time the previous year.”

Alberta’s government is providing additional one-time funding of $50,000 to AASAS to support Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence. This is in addition to the annual operational funding of $183,000.

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This additional one-time funding is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to address and prevent all forms of gender-based violence in the province, especially during the current crisis.

Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence is a province-wide toll-free talk, text and online chat service, available in more than 200 languages, that provides resources, support and referrals to specialized services for those impacted by sexual violence, says the province.

During the first six months of the pandemic (March to August 2020), AASAS saw an overall increase of 44 per cent in calls, texts and chats to the One Line over pre-pandemic volumes. AASAS also saw a notable increase during the second wave of COVID-19.