Planning underway for a new women’s shelter in London

Anova is in the early stages of building a new home to replace its aging shelter on Wellington Road. CTV’s Sean Irvine reports.

The operator of multiple London women’s shelters and a sexual assault centre is looking to build a new home.

Anova has put out a request for proposals to replace its Wellington Road shelter.

Over the years, the facility has housed thousands of women and their children fleeing violence.

Between the Wellington Road location, formerly known as Women’s Community House, and another one on Clarke Road, 67 beds are available.

More are needed, according to Jessie Rodger, who serves as Anova’s executive director.

“Unfortunately, we are having to turn people away. Sometimes there is a wait time for people to get into counseling or getting to see an outreach counselor,” said Rodger.

The organization has determined that the best path forward is to replace the Wellington Road shelter, which has been in operation since 1992.

“It’s been a really wonderful building, and it served its purpose,” said Rodger. “It’s just getting a little bit older. Things are starting to fall apart. And also, there are some design elements that I think, as we learn more about how to support women and children, there are some structural things that we would change.”

The new facility would also incorporate the sexual assault centre. It is currently housed in the Goodwill Industries building on Horton Street.

Rodger estimated the costs could reach into the “tens of millions” of dollars.

Anova already has provincial approval for a needs assessment.

“We kind of assessed that perhaps it was around 17,000 square feet that we would need. So, it is a pretty large space with 40 beds. And then you know, a sexual assault center along with that,” said Rodger.

Once the proposals are received, Rodger hopes all levels of government and the community will get behind the project to support women and children in need.