The executive director of the Huron County Women's Shelter in Goderich believes the province's new Rural Realities Fund will be helpful for women facing abusive situations in rural communities.
Donna Jean Forester-Gill points out that it's an acknowledgement by the government that women in abusive situations in rural communities face different challenges than women in the same situation in urban centres.
One of the biggest differences is the cost and availability of transportation. Forester-Gill says with no public transportation in rural communities and very large distances between homes and services, fleeing from an abusive situation is more difficult in a rural setting.
The Goderich Women's Shelter does cover transportation costs for an abused woman to get from her home to the centre.
She adds the new Rural Realities fund will at least get a conservation started, and hopefully encourage rural communities to come up with solutions.