Moose Jaw Transition House has enhanced its services by renovating its shelter to have a more modern look and opening a downtown office to offer a better community presence.
The non-profit spent the summer enhancing its shelter’s basement — using roughly $15,000 from donors and grant funders — to create a space that radiated safety, warmth and comfort for women journeying toward healing and better health.
“The difference is not just in the paint, flooring and furnishings but in the profound impact it has on the lives of survivors. A safe and inviting home is a fundamental part of the care we provide, and your support has made it a reality,” the organization wrote on Facebook.
“This renovation is a testament to the incredible power of community and the unwavering commitment to creating a haven where survivors can find solace, strength, and the support they deserve.”
After several months of renovations, Moose Jaw Transition House (MJTH) revealed the new looks of the three basement rooms in early October online.
Executive director Jenn Angus spoke to the Moose Jaw Express about how the work went.
“That floor was so bad. It was very institutional and the colour scheme was not soothing at all … ,” she said, noting it had a multi-coloured, checkered, gym floor-type look.
The organization was fortunate, though, because it used the donations to install new luxury vinyl plank flooring, paint, baseboards, furniture and “gorgeous beds,” while the entire project turned out “stunning,” she continued.
Furthermore, Transition House added a bed to one room, allowing it to host a mother and her child. Moreover, it installed a Murphy Bed — it can be stored vertically against a wall — for emergencies.
“The basement is stunning. It took a lot of people a lot of time to get it done,” Angus laughed. “I think our shelter supervisor was there every night doing painting and putting together furniture.”
The shelter house has three beds upstairs and three beds downstairs, while each level has a bathroom. The upstairs has a kitchen area and dining and living rooms, while the downstairs has laundry, office and family room.
Angus added that the upstairs didn’t need refurbishing because the organization had already done that.
New office
MJTH took possession of a new office on the 100 block of High Street West on Sept. 25 and spent about a week moving in before having a soft launch in early October. The organization plans to have a grand opening in November.
Angus was excited to operate out of a “brand-spanking new” downtown space since it allowed the organization to offer better services to its clients and the community.
Transition House had an office in the basement of Minto United Church and moved those services to the new location. Meanwhile, its other services were community-based, which meant counsellors and co-ordinators met with people in coffee shops.
“(That was) not really conducive to good conversation. So all the outreach will be out of here now, except for our children’s program,” said Angus.
The kids’ program and its worker will remain at Pioneer Lodge health-care centre because there are more resources — mental health, addictions and KidsFirst — and the non-profit can collaborate with those agencies, she continued. Therefore, it “made more sense” to keep the program there since many family-based resources are under one roof.
Meanwhile, MJTH’s youth worker will spend some time at the downtown office and can use the board room to meet with clients if necessary. Also, Tammy McCleary, the first co-ordinator, can decide if women should go to the shelter or be directed to other services, and also spend time in the community.
Angus added that Transition House can use its new office for other activities, too.
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