Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society (o/a Kelowna Women's Shelter)

Published purpose

Through this 32-month project, Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society will conduct research that will help improve GBV services for at-risk groups. It will address the knowledge gap regarding brain injuries resulting from Intimate-Partner Violence (IPV) in the 2SLGBTQ+ community to support the alignment of services with community-identified priorities, needs, and practices. To do so, the project will conduct community-based research with a mixed methods approach to determine the frequency and scope of IPV caused brain injuries in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, host a world-café style event with survivors and service providers to examine barriers and facilitators to service, and develop recommendations to improve supports for survivors. Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society will develop a knowledge dissemination plan to share information on the research findings. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, COESS will implement a Community Needs Assessment Survey, establish a structured Community of Practice, develop a Best Practices and Recommendations Report, and host a sector-wide dissemination webinar strengthening organizational capacity to respond to 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors of GBV and impact.