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Equity, Diversity & InclusionGender-based violenceOrganizational designPolicy reviewStrategy

Not Just a “Women’s” Shelter

2025-06-24

By Susan Underhill, Principal, Connor Claire Group

The future of gender-based violence (GBV) services is gender-inclusive

Women’s shelters have long been pillars of safety, advocacy, and care. But today, more organizations are expanding their definition of safety to welcome Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse survivors. Transgender, Two-Spirit, and non-binary individuals in Canada experience disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, and verbal harassment, as weel as discrimination. This shift is essential and it’s also challenging.

And let’s face it, feminism hasn’t always been that welcoming to Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals. But that is changing.

Let’s talk about what true gender inclusion looks like in practice — and how you can get there.

Inclusion isn’t a checkbox. It’s a culture

What gender-inclusive service delivery actually requires

  1. Inclusion Isn’t a Policy – It’s a Practice – Updating a mission is the easy part. Ensuring that staff, clients, and community partners feel that inclusion? That takes work.
  2. Tensions Are Real – And Navigable – Yes, there will be discomfort. But with good facilitation and shared values, your team can move forward together.
  3. It Starts with Culture – Safety, equity, and inclusion start at the roots, your internal culture, hiring practices, board conversations, and peer dynamics.

Walking the talk

We have worked with many GBV shelters and in our experience successful organizations have done the following:

  • Updated their mission to include gender-diverse people
  • Provided training to their staff and Board members
  • Reviewed their policies through a 2SLGBTQI+ lens
  • Started honest conversations on board composition
  • Grounded inclusion in survivor-centred practice
  • Developed partnerships with other organizations serving 2SLGBTQI+
  • Conducted surveys and exit interviews to understand how they are doing

Is your organization ready to lead with integrity?

We help GBV organizations:

  • Revisit and realign mission, vision, and values
  • Embed inclusion into policy and practice
  • Strengthen board-leadership relationships
  • Coach leaders navigating change

→ Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk. susan.underhill@connorclaire.ca | www.connorclaire.ca