Natasha Carvalho (left), executive director for the women's shelter, speaks at Monday's city council meeting.--NEWS PHOTO
City councillors heard Monday about the work the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society is doing to address domestic violence as November marks Family Violence Month.
Executive director Natasha Carvalho reported that over the past year the shelter has served 1,198 individuals including 251 children, and has a major capital campaign underway.
The current facility opened 30 years ago with 11 beds and has since grown to be able to house 30 clients without any physical expansion. Work would reorganize the space, move the daycare to ground level, add fire suppression, upgrade the security system and add washrooms for rooms.
The $8.5-million project was unveiled in September, and about $2 million is already secured through federal and provincial grants along with internal reserve funds, but $6 million in further fundraising is required.
“We feel that we can do this,” Carvalho told council. “We feel very confident that we can go to the community for fundraising – we’re not asking the city for money at this time.”
The MHWSS is now engaging potential corporate donors and requested continued advocacy from the city with other levels of government.
