CROSSROADS FOR WOMEN
New Shelter, New Start Campaign
Objective
$ 2.5 million
Launch
December 3rd 2014
Start of renovations
2016
What is Crossroads for Women
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, Crossroads for Women has been helping women and children fleeing
domestic violence, transition from crisis to empowerment by providing emergency shelter, education,
counselling and crisis intervention throughout Southeastern New-Brunswick since 1981.
Why we need your help
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Overcrowding: The transition house currently has seven bedrooms crammed with seventeen beds.
Increasing demands for emergency shelter in the city have forced us to turn away approximately
60% of the women and children seeking refuge. Last year alone, we had to say no to 94 women and
their children.
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Lack of counselling space: The lack of counselling space hinders interveners from delivering
crisis intervention and counselling services. Living Rooms are being used as counselling rooms and
meeting rooms, displacing residence from the only social area in the shelter.
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Accessibility: The four flight stairs in the current shelter make the house inaccessible to many
women seeking our help due to injuries from the domestic abuse they are fleeing (e.g., broken ribs,
wounds to the legs or feet, etc.).
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Inadequate kitchen facilities: The current kitchen was only designed to accommodate a family of
5. Operating at full capacity housing 7 to 8 families at a time, clients must eat at different meal times
in multiple shifts.; making it impossible to maintain a routine mealtime schedules for children and
increasing the risk of isolation.
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Fire hazards: Our aging building requires significant upgrades to be up to current safety and fire
regulations. The third floor where women with children are located have insufficient escape routes.
What our new shelter will provide
Crossroads for Women Inc. purchased a building in 2013, but it needs extensive renovations to provide the
emergency housing and programs women and children fleeing domestic violence need. Here’s what we
will be able to offer when our new shelter opens its doors.
Increased capacity and support: Increasing the number of beds from 17 to 29 will nearly double our
capacity to serve the community; ensuring that no one will be turned away and also providing the space
required to extend clients stays up to 3 months. With only a 30 day window, many of our clients are
overwhelmed by the process of rebuilding their lives and run the risk of going back into the dangerous
environments they are fleeing. Allowing our clients more time to find the affordable housing they
require, change where their children attend school and set-up their new home with the support of our
trained staff, will help ensure they are successful.
Increased programs and services: Additional
workshops and counselling areas will enable us to
provide much needed programming to ensure our
clients regain the self- confidence and acquire the
skills needed to re-establish themselves in the
community. Our current community partnerships
allow us to offer our clients the services and
expertise they need without incurring extra costs.
Providing programming on healthy relationship
building, budgeting, career development,
managing change, communication, educational
upgrading, legal assistance, are top priorities.
Safety: The design of our new building will bring our shelter up to Social Development Residential Housing
Standards. The new shelter will be located in a safe family- oriented neighbourhood and includes a secure
parking lots and outdoor play area. All staff will have the proper equipment to stay in constant contact, send
out immediate alerts, monitor all traffic and if required, obtain assistance immediately.
Accessibility: The new shelter will be equipped to properly meet the needs of the ailing, injured or pregnant
women and children, who require our services. Women often do come to us with significant injuries. Having a
one level shelter will significantly increase our ability to provide the supportive healing environment required.
A look inside
Women’s Resource and Welcome Centre: Serving as the first point of entry for women and
children seeking emergency shelter, this area will include a welcome center open to the public,
housing information and resources for victims of violence in the city. In addition there will be a
private intake room for women to complete necessary police reports and receive crisis intervention
and a dedicated play area for children entering the shelter for the first time.
Increased Bedrooms & Beds: 14 bedrooms outfitted with 29 bed will allow us to house nearly
double the number of women and children at one time and provide them with safe shelter for up to
3 months; ensuring they rebuild their lives on a stable foundation.
Expanded Dining Hall & Kitchen: Large enough to cook and serve communal meals, the
expanded kitchen and dining hall will host a cooking programs for residents, facilitate peer-to peer
support and interaction, combat feelings of personal isolation.
Private Counselling Rooms: Two private counselling rooms will enable on-site staff and visiting
experts to deliver the individualized counselling and crisis intervention required for residents in
order for them to break the cycle of violence in their lives.
Health and Wellness Multipurpose Room: Designed to help resident women and children heal
physically and emotionally from the trauma of the abuse, this area will host a variety of weekly
classes and monthly workshops from community experts, partnering organizations and health
practitioners. Large enough to provide space for physical activities such as yoga and martial arts, this
area will be designed to be multifunctional used as a classroom, support group and workshop area.
Family Lounge & Library:
Used as a family common room, this area will provide the space
required for resident families to resume a healthy social routine during their stay in the shelter.
Divided into two sections, one section will include an entertainment center outfitted with a
television, game center and leisure furniture, while a separate section will be outfitted with tables
and chairs and a small library to facilitate quieter activities and homework completion.
Women’s Lounge: Providing adult only space for women to unwind, socialize and receive peer-to-
peer support is an essential element of the recovery process. This activity center will be outfitted
with an entertainment unit, reading materials, and leisure furniture.
Children’s Fun House:
Ensuring children feel safe and secure during their stay is critical.
Decorated with stimulating colours, outfitted with toys and games, and staffed with a trained child
care intervenor the, the Children’s Fun House will be an environment where children will feel
comfortable to express themselves, learn skills to set healthy boundaries, overcome the trauma of
abuse, and resume a healthy,active routine of play and learning.
Courtyard & Children’s Play Park: One of the most beautiful features of the new property is the
open-air, secure courtyard. This wonderful outdoor space will allow residents to enjoy family time
and personal time outdoors, without fears of being seen or hurt. Outfitted with seating areas and
tables for socializing, the outdoor area will also include a Children’s Play Park for children to play and
explore in the fresh air feeling safe and secure.