Immense Community Need

It can be difficult to leave a violent family situation, and it’s only the first step on a long and challenging journey that’s almost impossible to navigate alone.

Willow Place provides safe short-term accommodation, counselling and other supports to help people and families rebuild their lives and live violence-free. Last year, 823 women and 295 children leaving their violent homes found shelter at Willow Place.

Last year we also had to turn away 1,202 people as Willow Place was frequently over-capacity.

The new Willow Place will ensure people and their children in our community who are going through the most difficult times of their lives have all they need to survive and to thrive.

Willow Place Now

Currently, Willow Place is housed in various sections of another organization’s building, without the space to expand or the opportunity to modify its spaces.

While people are genuinely grateful to have a safe place, Willow Place is hardly the cozy, welcoming refuge you’d picture to support families who’ve been traumatized. The current shelter spaces are cramped, cluttered and crowded with little space for privacy.

The new Willow Place

Violence victims deserve better

The community definitely needs more shelter beds so that families are not turned away.

Beyond having more comfortable bedrooms, people also need access to critical programs to help them heal and recover their emotional strength. Proper amenities, specialized supports and the opportunity to build community are all essential to moving forward.

The new Willow Place will also include transitional-housing apartments for people and families who need more time to find safe and affordable permanent housing. We want to ensure they have options beyond returning to abuse.

The new Willow Place will include:

More shelter beds
50 emergency beds (up from 38) and rooms of various sizes so more people can be safe

6 new transitional-housing apartments
Single women and larger families have the most trouble finding a permanent home. Two apartments for larger families and four studio suites will be available for those who need more time to heal or who are having trouble finding permanent housing.

Spaces to heal and grow stronger by building community
Women often leave their friends and family behind when leaving a relationship, as do their children. Developing new networks and building trust comes gradually, and it’s critical people have spaces to do that.

• The safe rooftop garden will be a relaxing, fresh-air space for all, and a space for children to play and make friends.
• The large dining room will accommodate all Willow Place participants, allowing everyone to eat together and build bonds over shared meals.
• In the commercial kitchen, people will connect cooking and sharing recipes. (Right now, only two people can comfortably fit in the Willow Place kitchen.)

Spaces for building skills, tools, strengths and confidence
Right now, most group programs take place in borrowed spaces or in the classroom, outside of school hours.

• Three programming spaces will allow healing programs to run concurrently, ensuring everyone can access the supports they need.
• A dedicated spiritual space will be available for those wanting to take part in healing ceremony or prayer.
• New small meeting spaces will give families privacy when speaking with law enforcement or counsellors.

There will also be a modern, fully appointed medical examination room providing privacy and dignity during bi-weekly medical and public health visits.

Spaces dedicated to children

• A cheerful, child-centred classroom will give young people a chance to find excitement in learning and feel a sense of belonging along with others going through similar challenges.
• A dedicated, spacious childminding space will keep children safe and cared for while their moms access counselling and other supports.

Will You Please Help?

If you can, please help build the new Willow Place.

By giving, you’ll help people and their children rebuild their lives so they can move forward and not go back to violence.

You will make space for hope.

To find out more about this project or making a capital donation, please contact:

Marcie Wood (she/her)
Executive Director
204-615-0313 ext. 230
MarcieW@willowplace.ca