News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


Health and Community Services
Executive Council
Transportation Works
September 24, 2010

New Transition House in Carbonear Officially Opened

O'Shaughnessy House, a safe and secure transition house for women and children escaping violence, was officially opened today in the community of Carbonear through a Provincial Government investment of $1.2 million. This includes $411,000 for one-time repairs and renovations, and $816,200 for staffing, household and operating costs.

"The Williams Government recognizes the critical role transition houses play in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, and is committed to investing in programs and services which provide protection and safety for residents in this province," said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services and MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace. "O'Shaughnessy House will not only provide safe and secure shelter for those living in abusive environments, but will also offer individual support and encouragement for women and their children."

Minister Kennedy was joined for the official opening today by Mary Dwyer, Chair, Board of Directors, Iris Kirby House; Gail Tobin, Executive Director, Iris Kirby House; Sister Sharon Fagan, Congregation Leader, Presentation Congregation; and, Morley Linstead, Manager, Home Assistance Program, Newfoundland Labrador Housing.

The 15-bed transition house will provide 24-hour emergency accommodation and a crisis telephone line, crisis intervention and prevention, food, shelter and referrals to appropriate services such as housing, income support, employment and legal services. It will also offer weekly empowerment and social groups. Occupancy is expected to begin on October 1.

"It is community organizations and women's organizations who have led the way in advocating for and operating women's shelters in Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. "Shelters like O'Shaughnessy House and the Iris Kirby House not only keep us well-informed of the realities of violence in our province, but the workers are on the front-lines, striving everyday to make a difference for the women and children that walk through their doors. The Provincial Government is supporting these shelters in their roles and I am proud of our support for this new shelter, as well as our violence prevention commitments in the province."

O'Shaughnessy House also received $394,752 from Newfoundland Labrador Housing to support portions of the construction and project management costs, along with asbestos abatement and environmental, safety plan and training inspections.

"Newfoundland Labrador Housing has been supportive of this initiative from the beginning and we are pleased to be a partner in this worthwhile cause," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. "I believe all of us here today share a confidence in the ability of O'Shaughnessy House to make a positive difference in the lives of the women and children who find themselves in the most difficult of circumstances and are in need of professional and reassuring support to help them cope and move on."

The first transition house opened in St. John's in 1981 when the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women lobbied for funding on behalf of women and children living in abusive environments.

"Strong government and community partnerships saw this project become a reality," said Gail Tobin, Executive Director, Iris Kirby House. "The opening of this new facility certainly validates for our clients that they have the support of a caring community, which is an important piece in the healing process for an abused woman as she moves forward to a life free from domestic violence."

Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future includes approximately $4.5 million in operational funding for nine transition houses in Newfoundland and Labrador, including St. John's, Marystown, Gander, Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador City, Nain, Hopedale, and Rigolet. An additional $200,000 will be invested to support a pilot project to review safety and security issues within transition houses throughout the province.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Melissa MacLeod
Communications Specialist
Women's Policy Office
709-729-6225
melissamacleod@gov.nl.ca


Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca


Gail Tobin
Executive Director
Iris Kirby House
709-722-8272
gailtobin@iriskirbyhouse.nf.net

 

2010 09 24                                                      1:15 p.m.

 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement