Squamish is more than $140,000 closer to having long-term housing for women fleeing abuse.
On Friday, Oct. 3, entrepreneur Clasina van Bemmel donated $140,865 to the Howe Sound Women’s Centre. The contribution was made by van Bemmel as a voluntary community amenity for rezoning of property located at 37881 Cleveland Avenue. Van Bemmel aims to develop a 36,000-square-foot lot on the southwest corner of Cleveland Avenue and Main Street. It includes a 4,000-square-foot community sanctuary, 40 individual adult co-housing units — private apartments supplemented by shared facilities — a vegetarian restaurant and an educational retreat.
Last August, the District of Squamish council approved the reallocation of funds to the women’s centre in lieu of a contribution to the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund.
The donation represents a significant milestone in the organization’s efforts to provide long-term, sustainable housing for women and their children escaping abusive relationships, the centre’s executive director Sheila Allen stated in a press release.
“Access to affordable housing is a significant barrier to women leaving abusive relationships,” she said. “While Pearl’s Place Transition House offers critical emergency housing for women, children and pets for up to 30 days, our community is lacking a longer term solution.”
A recent study focusing on women fleeing abuse throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor stated there’s a need for 16 second stage-housing units in Squamish. These units would provide affordable housing for women beyond the initial crisis stage, enabling them to live free from violence and abuse, Allen noted. Residents would also have access to counseling and one-on-one support services at the women’s centre.
“Second-stage housing offers safe, affordable housing at subsidized rental rates, empowering women to focus on rebuilding their lives,” Allen said. “We are grateful to Ms. Van Bemmel and the District of Squamish for their support of our vision to bring this project to life.”
Van Bemmel said she hopes the donation spurs Squamish residents into action.
“I so hope that the sea to Sky community will rally behind them to make this capital campaign a success,” she said.
