By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association gets $1.9M from feds, province to expand capacity

Mar 26, 2018 | 11:17 AM

The provincial and federal governments are investing approximately $1.9 million to increase the number of beds for women and children fleeing domestic violence in the Rocky Mountain House region.

The funding complements the Alberta government’s annual investment of more than $50 million for women’s shelters province-wide. It represents a portion of the $6.15 million provided to Alberta by the federal government to support the construction and renovation of off-reserve shelters and transitional housing for families fleeing family violence, through the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.

The province will also provide $700,000 for operations of the Clearwater Abuse Prevention Centre, which is run by the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA).

Irfan Sabir, Minister of Community and Social Services, made the important announcement Monday morning at the Lou Soppit Community Centre in Rocky.

“No Albertan should live in fear, nor suffer alone,” said Sabir. “This funding builds on our government’s commitment to protect and support women and children affected by family violence. We stand with survivors of violence and this new shelter will ensure families are safe, supported and can begin to rebuild.”

Discriminatory Slurs

Sundre RCMP investigating damage to NDP election signs

9h ago

For properties

Lacombe County avoids increase in municipal tax rate

10h ago

4 new cases

AHS reports 30 confirmed cases of measles in central zone after recent exposures

13h ago

“Through investments in emergency shelters and transitional housing across Alberta, our government is helping to support women and children at an absolutely critical time,” the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said in a statement. “In all corners of the country, we’re committed to keeping communities strong by partnering on initiatives that give people the safety and stability they need to rebuild their lives.”

Lisa Block, Vice-President of the MRWSA, says the $4-5 million project is a long-time coming, and it’s thanks in part to the additional $700,000 contributed by the community.

“This is one of those businesses that not everybody likes to talk about, but it is one of those unfortunate things that all communities have to be aware of, as well as support,” she says, noting there were more than 265 people turned away in 2017 due to a lack of space. “It’s not always pretty, but it is an essential service.”

MRWSA Executive Director Cindy Easton added that the new centre will be, “so much more than a roof over the heads of women and children fleeing violence. This will be their lifeline to safety. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the minister, the governments and to our community.”

The 20,000 sq.ft. centre will offer 21 beds, with an additional five second stage apartments. Once a client completes their first 21 days at the shelter, they can enter the second stage units for another 18 months, if one is open.

When construction is finished next spring, the current 10-bed shelter will close as the Association’s lease with the Town will expire.

The Clearwater Abuse Prevention Centre will be located about three blocks west of Highway 11 on 47 Avenue.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.