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History
1989 to the Present
In May 1988, two Strathroy area women, Donna Rietschlin and
Fran Donohue, were involved with an abused woman. What they discovered in
attempting to get her help and referrals was that in West Middlesex
County, services were minimal and there was no shelter available as safe
transitional housing. Their immediate reaction was to put together a
steering committee of five to investigate avenues of funding a shelter in
the county for abused women and their children.
In 1989 a feasibility study was completed that targeted
lawyers, doctors, police, schools, hospitals and social service agencies
in West Middlesex County. The results of the study clearly indicated a
need for a shelter to serve rural and ethnic women.
In 1989 a moratorium on shelter funding was in effect which
meant funding would not be available for some time. Money was, however,
made available for a Resource Centre, which opened its doors on October
15,1990 at 48 Front Street, Strathroy. With a mandate to educate, support
and counsel abused women, one counsellor and one receptionist/secretary
staffed the centre.
In August 1990, the federal government committed $280,000
in capital expenses to build a shelter. The (now) Ministry of Community
and Social Services (MCSS) was prepared to provide $270,000 for
operational costs. Strathroy was chosen because of its 24-hour police
presence.
Shelter construction began in October 1991. As it went up,
the community of Strathroy and area gave generously of itself with all
aspects of the agency: food, clothing, appliances, furniture and money.
They helped to realize a dream when the 21 bed shelter was ready for
clients in March 1992.
In February 1992, a school based Violence Prevention
Program supplemented the services provided by the agency. This was done in
collaboration with local School Boards.
In 1993, an Outreach Program was developed and offices
opened in Newbury, Parkhill and Lucan. Services were later expanded to
women in Mt. Brydges (1996), Melbourne and Ilderton (1998).
In 1994, MCSS funded an organizational review and, in 1995
offices at the Resource Centre were expanded to accommodate changes in
agency organizational structure. In 1996, the breezeway was added so that
children resident in the shelter could safely get to and from the office.
January 1998,
through a $139,000 Shelter Enhancement Grant from Canadian Mortgage and
Housing Corporation, the Resource Centre moved its offices from Front
Street to the shelter location. This allowed all agency services to
provided from one site. Also in 1998, the WRRC adopted the Carver model
of governance.
In 1999, the
agency purchased, again through a generous $150,000 grant from the CMHC,
the adjacent duplex for Second Stage housing. This expansion was
undertaken to address the shortage of affordable housing for women leaving
abusive relationships. Money for programs to support these tenants is
provided through donations. Our first tenants took occupancy on May 1,
2000.
The year 2000 was a year of many
changes inside the agency. In May, a new Executive Director was hired.
In October 2000, the Board of Directors made the difficult decision to
eliminate the School-based Violence Prevention Program. The decision
arose subsequent to the United Way’s March 2000 decision to eliminate
funding for this project.
October 2000 saw the Ontario
government provide new money for a Transitional Support Program designed
to support women who wished to leave their abusive relationships to do
so. The WRRC hired its Transition Coach in March 2001.
This year also
marked a phenomenal year for donations – both monetary and otherwise. The
Christmas Family Sponsorship Program exceeded expectations and the
agency’s playground equipment – removed the previous summer out of safety
concerns – was replaced and installed in April 2001.
Click here to view
our Philosophy.
Click here to
view our Milestones.
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