This report is the summary of a review conducted for the Canadian Women’s Foundation to enhance the grant making, analyze emerging trends, and understand the current philanthropic environment of services for women who have experienced violence and who have mental health and substance use concerns.

The review involved consultations with women with lived experience, service providers and representatives from various ministries across Canada. In addition, we reviewed literature in Canada and Internationally for current knowledge around and promising practices for supporting women impacted by these intersecting issues. Finally, we have drawn on research findings from BC Society of Transition Houses’ Reducing Barriers project and our partners, the Woman Abuse Response program at BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre’s Building Bridges project.

Prepared for the Canadian Women’s Foundation. February 2011.