A release from Help and Shelter yesterday noted that the agency regretfully announced the coming closure of the shelter at the end of this month.

“Our Crisis Service at Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, will however, continue to remain open as usual from 08:00 hours to 16:30 hours Monday to Friday, as will our Hotlines 227-3454 and 231-7249. The Court support work will continue as well as public education activities with the different groups we work with. The public is reminded that all our services are free,” the release stated.

It continued: “We hope that the closure will be only temporary and that our ongoing efforts to obtain the necessary funding to cover shelter operating costs will soon be successful.

“The shelter was built with funding provided through the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) on land donated by the Government. Most of the furniture and furnishings and household equipment were donated, and a grant of $6M from the Lottery Fund, together with the proceeds of fund-raising events and campaigns, covered the running costs for two years.

“Since the shelter opened, 98 women and children have been provided with a refuge from domestic violence. While at the shelter, clients have received counselling and other support to help them put their lives back together. Last year, a number of shelter residents received training in several skills, including fabric painting, tie-dyeing, batik and candle making.”

The release noted that managers of the project had made every effort to minimise expenditure and to work towards the self-sustainability of the shelter. The fruit and vegetable-growing project has however been hampered by the area's poor drainage system and while the chicken-rearing arrangement with Bounty Farms is proceeding well, there is still a considerable gap between the income realised and the minimum possible monthly cost of running the shelter.