A new home for women and children escaping domestic violence has opened in ѻý.
The Alexandra Gardner Women and Children Safe Centre features 20 shelter spaces and 24 transitional studio homes for women and their children.
The five-storey building is a redevelopment of a former 20-space shelter.
The province provided $5 million for the project through BC Housing and will provide more than $1 million in annual operating funding for the shelter.
The federal government provided $14.8 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporationѻý Affordable Housing Fund, and $3.8 million from the Women and Children Shelter and Transitional Housing initiative.
aNOW Canada will be the operator. The organization contributed land valued at $736,000.
“This is a vital step toward addressing the shortage of shelter beds, affordable housing and essential services for vulnerable women in our community,” said Liz Talbott, executive director of NOW Canada, in a news release.
The building has a full commercial kitchen, dining area and lounge, as well as laundry facilities. NOW Canada staff will be available on site every day around the clock.
These new shelter beds and homes mean that women and their families will have a place to turn to where they will have the support they need to rebuild their lives, heal and gain independence,” said ѻý MP Stephen Fuhr in the release.