By Miller Reynolds
The waiting list for transitional housing has a chance to be shortened with the help of Belleville residents.
Belleville social service agency, Three Oaks, has been providing emergency shelter and community counselling programs, but is now striving to do more. The agency is in the planning stage of a campaign to build second-stage housing for women and children who have fallen victim to violence.
Transitional housing, also known as second-stage housing provides a secure living space for people who are leaving an emergency shelter. They are self-contained apartments for women and children who have suffered from abuse and are attempting to get back on their feet.
To help raise funds for the construction of the facility, Three Oaks has recruited fundraiser Julia Gosson to lead the campaign.
“We have waitlists that are in excess of eight years in length for affordable housing in this community,” she said.
“So it’s really important for us to be able to assist women who have experienced violence and their children to try and help them transition back into a healthy life,” she said.
Pam Havery, executive director of Three Oaks, is excited to embark on this campaign, and is enthusiastic to have Gosson running the show.
“We’re very happy that we were able to hire her on this contract position, because she brings a lot of skills and experience in terms of raising funds in the community,” she said.
“Second-stage housing is a provable success, so we are really looking forward to be able to offer that because it has been a gap in our community,” said Havery.
Although the success of this campaign relies on donations from the community, Gosson is confident the agency will be able to raise the required amount of money to build the housing units.
“We’re quite confident that we’ll do it, we’re just not sure how long it’s going to take,” she said.