Women-specific shelter in Windsor is overflowing

Windsor's Welcome Centre Shelter for Women is overflowing.

Staff at the emergency shelter placed six sleeping mats in the living and community rooms this week to accommodate more clients, according to executive director Lady Laforet.

"Just because we are full, the calls don't stop, we've had to get creative to meet the demand," she explained.

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Clients are becoming frustrated with the overcrowding, said strategic partnership manager Kristin Douglas, who added the shelter is planning to move.

"We need a new buildingwhere families and single women can both be served on-siteand we are working towards having a building purchased this fall and renovations as soon as we can after that," she said.

The centre is looking for about 20,000 square feet of space, which would be far more expansivethan the current 4,000 square feet.

The Centre opened 27 years ago to provide gender-specific shelter, but crowding tires the limited staff and adds cost.

Laforetsaid a space specifically for women is a necessity, citing unique safety concerns, trauma considerations and mental health struggles.