Kim Smith
6/14/2012
Women with children who are victims of family violence now have a place they can call home in Edmonton.
WINGS of Providence opened a new long-term facility to house 29 women and their children who are leaving shelters for independent living.
Manager of Resources and Development at the organization, Linda Churchill, says women and children are often close to being homeless when they leave the shelter.
"Often times our women are on the verge of homelessness when they've left a situation and they come to our program but then the housing market is so difficult," says Churchill. "It's just so costly to rent an apartment."
The residence is fully-furnished and decorated to help women get back on their feet.
"Everything is there because we don't want them worrying about that when poverty is also such a big issue. We have pots, pans and dishes," says Churchill. "The volunteers that have helped us decorate really took it to their soul and wanted it to be a beautiful home for these ladies."
Churchill says the long-term housing facility is the first of its kind for the city, and three women have already moved in. The home is being funded in part by a $4.3 million grant from the city and the province. (ks)
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