It’s demolition time! Our renovations are underway and the jackhammers are working to rebuild the shelter that rebuilds lives.

Our residents and clients are so excited about the renovation – especially the expanded space for our Community Programs including our new computer lab and our enhanced Children’s Play Area.

Our families are incredibly resilient, and we are grateful for their understanding and patience. The younger kids are particularly excited by the “mighty machines” at work here at Interval House – we even had a crane on site to load up construction materials!

And our staff are working around the clock to keep life as normal as possible during this upheaval.

Interval House has received $500,000 in dedicated funding from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to renovate and expand our centre!

When we moved into our new shelter in 2005, the top floor was unfinished, and we made the responsible decision to keep it that way to ensure we could support the increase in service. But we always had a bold and ambitious vision to expand into the top floor and transform Interval House by streamlining our program space. For the last 5 years, with your help and support, we have demonstrated that we can confidently meet our operating budget, and we’re thrilled that the day has come to complete the next stage in our renovation!

With this funding, we will be able to enhance our programs and services to help women and children escaping abuse. Our approach remains holistic: we provide a continuum of care from crisis shelter and counselling to life skills and employment support.

Our renovation includes 4 exciting changes:

• Transforming Community Programs: expansion to include a counselling room, meeting space, B.E.S.S. (Building Economic Self-Sufficiency) Resource Centre with an education room and computer lab, and space for our Career and Household Boutiques of donated items
• Brightening Children’s Program: bright, cheerful and accessible space with free play area, toys, art therapy area as well as a quiet counselling and homework area
• Enhanced Counsellor Advocate Office: private counselling office with improved storage and space for meetings
• Efficient Administration: moves to the top floor and contains a board room with moveable walls, office space for programs and administration and a multi-use volunteer space

Here are some photos from the recent funding announcement.

We break ground in the spring! Please come back to this space – at www.intervalhouse.ca/renovation – for more photos and stories about our renovation progress.