New Cambridge women's shelter breaks ground despite $3.5 million shortfall
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region will break ground on a new shelter Monday at 70 Acorn Way in Cambridge.
It will replace Haven House on Concession Road, which has become too cramped, says Women's Crisis Services CEO Mary Zilney.
"Right now at haven house in Cambridge, women are sharing bedrooms and bathrooms," says Zilney.
"That certainly contributes to some tension among women when you're needing to share a room with someone you don't know or someone who may have a child and you don't have a child."
Zilney says the new building have more space for living and special programs like cooking and music therapy.
The organization needs $9.4 million for the new shelter, but are currently short $3.5 million.
Zilney is "optimistic" the provincial and federal governments will chip in.
"It would be really unusual to have the whole amount prior to starting the build," says Zilney.
"Certainly we had hoped that the provincial and federal government would have contributed by this point where we're starting to dig, but that hasn't happened."