Funding fail sends Alternatives for Women to GoFundMe campaign

Plan showing out side of Vi’s Place.

A failed funding stream has sent Alternatives of Women into a GoFundMe campaign to raise $50,000 to finish the County’s first women’s shelter.

Alternatives is renovating a home on Bridge Street into a shelter room, four transitional housing units and one affordable apartment.

“We had all our finances in order to cover the full cost plus contingency of the renovation and our wonderful contractor got under way when one of our funding streams fell through,” said  Leah Morgan, executive director. “So here we are, halfway through our build, and short of funds. Our contractor is going above and beyond in his faith that we will secure the finances to complete our project.”

Vi’s House will be a safe place for vulnerable women in Prince Edward County. The beds will augment the six transitional housing beds currently in use and run by Alternatives for Women (AFW) in the County.

“Many people are surprised to know that AFW needs all these beds,” said Morgan. “Sadly, it’s the best kept secret in The County.”

Since April of 2019, 15 women refused emergency shelter because it meant leaving the County and their children, school, job, pets, support/family, etc.

It was named Vi’s House after Violet Agnes Courtney, who resided at the home until her death in 2017 at age 85. The Courtney family was pleased Alternatives will create a safe place, nothing they thought their mother would appreciate of legacy of using it for women to help women.

The project was made possible by the Parrott Foundation which donated $250,000.

Alternatives for Women assists about 250 women a year. Alternatives provides free and confidential services to abused women in Prince Edward County, which includes a 24-hour crisis line, group and individual counselling, emergency transportation, and advocacy and support. It currently administers a second-stage housing program with a six-plex apartment with four two-bedroom and two one-bedroom units for women who are in need of safe housing.

Morgan notes every violent crime statistic in Canada is going down except domestic violence. “Even in Prince Edward County the domestic violence rate is increasing.”

“The board and staff of AFW have had to come to the decision that we just can’t do it on our own anymore. For us, the safety of our women is paramount, going to the public to ask for donations for this project was not undertaken lightly. It is too important to risk not completing the project.

“We are hoping to raise $50,000 from the public while we explore every avenue of funding from the province and the federal government to get the other $130,000 required to complete the project,” Morgan said.

Click here to view and support the GoFundMe campaign.