An area shelter for abused women and children has plans for another facility.
Executive Director of My Friend’s House in Collingwood, Alison Fitzgerald, says the property on Hurontario Street across the street from Tim Horton’s downtown was donated by a man who wants to remain anonymous.
Fitzgerald says if My Friend’s House gets a government grant, it will turn the house into transitional supportive housing for abused women who experience significant trauma.
She says the facility will be called Next Door and will be unique to the area.
Fitzgerald adds it will be set up on a three year pilot project to help those women who end up coming back to My Friend’s House because they have trouble moving forward and end up in another abusive relationship.
Next Door would be able to accommodate eight women at a time.
Fitzgerald says the house is ready to move in and they should hear by January whether they get the funding from the government.
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald is reacting very strongly to the news a handful of Liberal and New Democrat M-P’s helped the Harper Conservatives yesterday pass a Tory private member’s bill designed to kill the long gun registry.
Fitzgerald says she thinks it’s the wrong decision and more women will be killed by guns as well as more police officers.