Thanks to a $200,000 donation from the Grande Prairie Rotary Club, the goal of raising $4.7 million for the Odyssey House Supportive Housing project has been reached.
Grande Prairie Women’s Residence President Cliff Turner explains that the emergency shelter is only a temporary option for women and children fleeing domestic violence, which is not enough time for them to get back on their feet.
“In some cases, they’ve never had control of their money; they’ve never learned how to survive on their own; they’ve been victimized and they have no where to go. So what happens is they go right back to the same situation, they’re there for a while, and then it repeats, they come back and it’s a cycle.”
In addition to reduced rent and a safe place to live, Director Jasmine Greavett says there will also be support programs to help the women learn things like budgeting and job skills.
“It’s not just about a housing, a structure; it’s about the supports that are in place to continue those services and really helping women heal and overcome the years of trauma from their abuse.”
Work was started on the 14 suite apartment style facility back in May.
The goal is to have it open by this summer.
