Leeds and Grenville needs a Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, according to local therapist Meagan Cumming. She says the county is one of the few places in the province that doesn’t have one.
Cumming, along with Victim Services Leeds & Grenville Executive Director Sonya Jodoin, presented to North Grenville Council last night.
Jodoin says Sexual Assault Crisis Centres are funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General. She says the county doesn’t get any of that funding and relies on Victim Services and the Assault Response & Care Centre in Brockville to fill the gap. Jodoin says the Ministry is reviewing its programming currently and now is the time to advocate for services.
Jodoin says only 5 per cent of sexual assault victims come forward. Between 2015 and 2016, Victim Services saw about 110 victims, which means around 2,200 potential victims throughout the county.
Jodoin says the numbers are going up. She says based on the 5 per cent assumption, over 14,000 people in Leeds and Grenville have been sexually assaulted in the past four years or are victims of historical sexual assaults.
Cumming asked council to help Steve Clark, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP, push for funding. Council passed a resolution to draft a letter of support.
If anyone has questions, contact Cumming directly by emailing [email protected].