Airdrie P.O.W.E.R (Protecting Our Women with Emergency Resources) continues to work toward establishing a women's shelter in the city but for right now they have their sights set on getting an interim solution in place.  

The group's President Crystal Boys says they believe an office space in the city would be a good temporary solution so that's what they have established as a summer project.

"Still our main goal is to get the shelter here and we are still fundraising for that.  It's going a little slower than I would have liked but it is still moving forward.  Our main focus now is to obtain an office space."

Boys says they want an office space to let them better connect with the community and get a central location for the services they provide.    

"An office space would provide us with the means to have confidential drop-in support, even if it's a cup of coffee and a phone so that they can call someone to help.  It would help us manage our Women Helping Women program which is our hamper program.  It will give the kids a space to play while mom is talking to someone and it will also give us an opportunity to provide educational programs to the public such as how can you as a family or friend help someone in need, those types of programs and so much more."

Boys believes it's a great way to get established with providing support and helping women in Airdrie who are fleeing domestic violence.  She says the size of the space could be as small as 500 square feet, although that would be quite tight.  Over 1,000 square feet would support all of their initiatives in one spot."

As it stands now, Airdrie P.O.W.E.R is run out of the basement of Boys' home which limits their ability to open their services to the public for safety and zoning reasons. That prevents the group from getting many women going through domestic violence the help they need from groups like Community Links and Airdrie and District Victim's Assistance Society.  Having an office space, Boys feels, would help them do that. 

 Boys says that Airdrie is in desperate need of a women's shelter now.  Realistically, hower, she hopes one can be established in the next two years to relieve some of the pressure on shelters in Calgary and to give women in Airdrie who are experiencing domestic violence a place to turn to. 

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