Women in the Regent Park area of Toronto took to the streets last night calling for an end to gender based violence which is compounded in that neighbourhood by a lack of safe places for women to go.

They gathered at the Regent Park Community Health Centre to share stories of abuse from their partners and the search for a safe place to sleep.  Norma Jean Neal is with the Centre and says time and time again she sees women who are unable to find a shelter space, return to the centre in the morning black and blue because there are simply not enough beds.

The province is investing $90 million dollars to ease homelessness in Toronto, but that money is earmarked for permanent housing, not more shelter spaces.