More women and children will have a safe place to go if they are fleeing domestic violence. The YWCA Saskatoon launched its Hope Lives Here campaign today (Thurs), raising funds for an expansion and renovation, adding 71 more beds in 35 new units for the Crisis Shelter & Residence.
CEO of YWCA Saskatoon, Cara Bahr, says the renovation will include multi-bedroom units which will mean being able to accommodate women with children, which will be a first for their second-stage housing program. The Crisis Shelter & Residence is always full. Bahr says last year they had to turn away over 42-hundred women, youth and children. According to the YWCA, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of domestic violence of the provinces and it takes on average 7 to 8 times for a woman to leave an abuser, yet housing is one of main barriers to escape violence.
The Brownlee Family Foundation is donating $2 million towards the $19 million campaign. Ina Lou Brownlee says making the decision to help was an easy one. “I have never been in that situation and I can’t imagine a woman and child going through that. I’m just passionate about it. No woman or child should have to go through this.
The federal government is investing $6.7 million for this project while the province is adding $1.95 million and the City, $670,000. Construction is expected to be done by December of next year and should be at 25 per cent occupancy.
The expansion and renovation project will:
– Increase the number of available Crisis Shelter and Residence second-stage housing beds with a 71-bed expansion, added to the existing facility. This will more than double the
YWCA’s capacity creating more space for more women and children. The new 35 units have space for women to stay alongside their children as they rebuild their lives.
– Repair and renovate critical aspects of the current shelter and facility, including a pressing need for a new roof.
– Expand the Employment and Learning Centre, where clients learn critical skills necessary to obtain sustainable employment at no cost to themselves. A main floor area will be
repurposed to bring the entire Employment and Learning Centre in-house, saving up to $77,000 a year in external rental costs.
Donations to the campaign can be made at https://www.ywcasaskatoon.com/support/donate/ or dropped off at the YWCA Saskatoon.
For more information on the details of the expansion and renovation project, including project costs and the next steps in the planning process, visit http://www.ywcasaskatoon.com/hope.
