London Abused Women's Centre opens doors at new location

CTV London: LAWC moves to larger location The London Abused Women's Centre is hoping its new offices will help the group better serve the community. Celine Moreau explains.

The London Abused Women's Centre (LAWC) has opened its doors at a new location less than two kilometres from their old digs.

The group's last day at 217 York Street was Thursday, and the move got underway on Friday.

By Tuesday morning, LAWC's new location at 797 York Street, at Rectory Street, was up and running - though there's still a lot of unpacking to do.

Executive Director Megan Walker hopes the building will allow LAWC to be able to serve a growing need in the community

"We responded to something like 3,200 phone calls last year. We served the needs of over 3,000 women. So we are excessively busy and we needed a space that is convenient and accessible for all women."

The new space features meeting rooms, a larger waiting room for women and a spacious child care room which is equipped with an alarm system that will sound if a child wanders away.

There are also two extra counselling rooms in the new space, which will allow the centre to help more women, and Walker is hoping to hire a new counsellor in the near future.

That growth is made possible by the centre's new landlord. Vito Frijia of the Southside Group explains "Because of their use and their non-profit status we went below market rates as basically a way for Southside to help the community."

The LAWC adds that the location is just seven blocks from the old location, is on many bus routes and has over 20 free parking spots for clients and visitors.

"It just is an amazing space where women and their children will feel welcomed and have the room they need to have the work that they request," Walker says.