ri-City Transitions is about to sign a deal for a new transition house that would provide more beds and housing for women, and their children, fleeing domestic abuse.
Carol Metz Murray, the agency's executive director, made the announcement Friday night at a Coquitlam women's networking event and fundraiser.
The final details have yet to be worked out and the location of the new transition house can't be disclosed for security reasons but Metz Murray announced the current 10-bed Joy's Place would be replaced by the new facility in the coming months.
Once it is open, the new Joy's Place would provide four more beds, for a total of 14, and six units of second-stage housing to help give women a safe, secure transition back to the community.
Metz Murray led up to the announcement, made during the second annual Glow: A Women's Evening of Change and Celebration, by pointing out that Joy's Place opened with 10 beds in 1978 and although services grew to support women, the bed count didn't increase over the ensuing 35 years, even though the region's population increased by 137%.
Now, Tri-City Transitions has grown and delivers programs for men as well as women and children with the goal of breaking the cycle of violence.
"I am excited to provide services in the community where it is needed," Metz Murray.
Meanwhile, Mandi Sellers, one of the founders of Glow, which organizes networking events and accountability groups for women, as well as promoting communications and negotiating skills and education for girls, urged members of the audience to support the new Joy's Place with donations.
In all, the Glow event raised more than $3,000 that will be used to furnish two of the rooms in the new Joy's Place.
For more information about Tri-City Transitions, visit www.tricitytransitions.com. For more information about Glow events and Achieve Radiance, visit www.achieveradiance.com
Home Depot in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam is also supporting Tri-City Transitions with its $2 Buy the Hammer, Build our Community campaign until July 3.
