Not just a safe haven

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This article was published 13/06/2023 (872 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A unique proposal aims to create transitional homes in West Broadway for women fleeing domestic violence and help them pursue education.

The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. hopes to transform two lots to provide a 15-unit building for women and children who have experienced gender-based violence. To be eligible, the women involved must also be seeking ways to further their education.

“It’s trying to provide a supportive environment so that women can succeed as they’re stabilizing, as they’re transitioning from a place of violence and trauma, to find a safe place to try to reset and make a future for themselves… and have education as a piece of that recovery,” said Jeremy Read, chief executive officer of the corporation.

Read said the education itself can vary and may include English language lessons, high school courses or university classes.

“We want women who are cohorting because they have a similar aspiration so… you’re growing a support network inside the building,” he said.

He asked that the exact address for the project not be published to better protect future tenants.

The four-storey building would feature a counselling space, roof deck, indoor secure bicycle parking, and an indoor communal area. Its five parking stalls would include a dedicated space for a car-share vehicle and an electric vehicle stall. The building would be clad with Tyndall stone, stucco, aluminum and corrugated steel.

Affordable monthly rents of about $385 for single dwellings, $950 for two-bedroom units and $1,020 for three-bedroom suites would be offered, said Read.

For clients able to claim rent assist benefits, the price could drop to as low as $140 per month for a single unit, $250 for a two-bedroom and $264 for a three-bedroom, he added.

The building is expected to include 10 single-occupant units, three two-bedroom suites and two three-bedroom ones.

Read said supportive programs would be offered through multiple partnerships. Ikwe-Widdjiitiwin, an Indigenous women’s shelter, would refer potential tenants and provide culturally appropriate supports and workshops. New Journey Housing, a newcomer housing resource centre, would also refer tenants and offer support.

The transitional homes would help ensure the women can succeed beyond staying at an emergency shelter, said Codi Guenther, executive director of New Journey Housing.

“We absolutely do see (women) where they’re weighing their options of do I stay here where it’s maybe unsafe (because) I don’t have anywhere else to go? If this type of housing is an option, I think that will impact a lot of people’s lives and get them into safer housing,” said Guenther.

Her agency plans to assist with rental education, translation services and, eventually, help clients referred to the building get more permanent homes.

“It’s not just putting people into housing and then saying goodbye, it’s being there with them on their housing journey. Hopefully, that’s one piece of the puzzle in terms of getting these families a little more stabilized after they’ve been going through some harder times,” said Guenther.

She said ensuring the units are affordable is especially important.

“A lot of times, during family separation… one partner may have to go on (employment and income assistance) while they wait for child support, so (rent) really has to be truly affordable,” said Guenther.

On June 19, council’s city centre community committee will hold a hearing on municipal government approvals required for the plan, which proposes to combine a vacant lot and a lot with an existing multi-family building that would be demolished.

Read said the existing building is about 125 years old but does not have heritage protection. It has problems with its foundation and would not last long enough to be included in the project.

“The building… (is) kind of beyond its useful economic life,” he said.

Read expects the project will cost about $8.5 million, with construction slated to begin once approvals and funding are in place, he said.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of the property and development committee, said there’s an urgent need to provide more housing options for women fleeing domestic violence, making this type of project a priority.

“Shelters are very adult-oriented spaces. There’s very few shelters… that have child-centred spaces… so it’s really critical to have second-stage (transitional) housing for women and children and to stabilize them through post-secondary (education) and that’s the brilliant piece of this plan,” said Rollins.

The councillor said she expects to support city clearances for the plan, calling it “a no-brainer.”

The building applications before the city would require full council approval.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga