Community group sends decision makers strong message: Ottawa cares about Nelson House!
OTTAWA – Less than 48 hours after launching a petition to save a local women’s shelter from closing, the Save Nelson House Community Group has gathered over 1,500 signatures in support of keeping Nelson House open.
The petition calls on Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services (MCSS) John Milloy to keep the shelter for women and children open.
Nelson House provides shelter for 15 women and children fleeing domestic violence in the city of Ottawa. It is staffed by 25 female employees who deliver services and supports to vulnerable members of our community.
The Board of Directors of Nelson House closed the shelter on May 25 on an interim basis. They later announced that they would be closing the shelter permanently following a meeting of the corporation on June 14. That meeting was postponed.
MCSS is meeting with members of the Violence Against Women Community today to discuss Nelson House’s future. The community group will send the petition to Minister Milloy in the hope that the province will work to ensure that Nelson House remains open.
“The fact that we were able to get so many signatures in such a short period of time is an indication of how strong the community support is for this service,” said Keri Lewis, a staff person at the shelter.
For more information, please contact:
Keri Lewis, CUPE 3851 Co-President: (613) 862-9164
Zahra Alam, CUPE 3851 Co-President: (613) 601-1815
Tony Cristiano, CUPE National Representative: (613) 282-4814