Womanspace Resource Centre Society description

Womanspace Resource Centre Society has been supporting women in Lethbridge and the surrounding communities in various capacities for nearly forty years. The organization developed out of a group of local feminist women who began to meet in the early 1980s to discuss and collectively respond to issues of common concern, such as violence against women, the feminization of poverty, and pay equity. Womanspace was incorporated as a society in March of 1993 and served the needs of women and their families in southern Alberta as a non-profit organization. We gained charitable status in August 2021.

Womanspace Resource Centre currently offers three services primarily for women with low income. Through Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), Womanspace volunteers and a part-time staff person complete and file income tax returns for women. This program has been offered year-round for over a decade (barring a brief closure due to Covid). We also purchase replacement identification documents for women and their children. Thirdly, Womanspace is developing financial literacy programming for people with low income. While Womanspace focuses on women, we do not exclude men who also meet the recommended income threshold as defined by the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

Providing year-round services for income tax completion ensures women (and men) with low income can access a range of government financial supports. These supports are often people’s only source of reliable income and are only paid upon tax return filing. In addition, for those who do have paid employment, being refunded any excess deducted income tax can make a significant difference to their living situation. Because Womanspace clients do not owe income tax, they can file their returns at any point during the year, making our year-round clinic vital. We are also one of the few organizations that will pay for people’s replacement identification documents. Our financial literacy programming is being developed and delivered in cooperation with several other local organizations.