The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-01, Page 11Shelter
Web site
newest tool
for women
in need
Gerard Crease
signal -star staff
Discreet, safe and always available.
The new Women's Shelther of Huron
Web site offers women in times of crisis
,a new round-the-clock resource.
"We want to ensure women have the
easiest ad safest access to our services,"
said shelter executive director Michele
Hansen.
The Web site was officially launched
Friday, 27 at the Huron County Library
Goderich branch, with women logging
on for the inaugural tour, led by Hansen
and by communications consultant Jane
Antoniak.
The site includes information about the
emergency shelter, second -stage housing
and counselling among other services, as
well as information about events run by
the Women's Shelther, such as the Festi-
val of Arts and Crafts which they host on
The Square every year.
Though the site is designed with wom-
en seeking emergency assistance in mind,
there are also many avenues for people
who wish to help out to do so.
"There are opportunities for financial
(contributions), volunteer information,"
Hansen said. "Ways of getting directly
involved."
The product of .the past six months, the
Web site was made available through the
Ministry of Community. and Social Ser-
vices with a $15,000 grant.
Promotional materials, such as mouse
pads and bookmarks will be distributed
around the county to make sure women
are aware of the new online tools.
"Schools, libraries, community events,"
Hansen said. "Any place we think wom-
en will go."
Chair of the Women's Shelter board,
Emily Phillips noted all services will re-
main completely confidential in the new
online format.
All the staff at the Women's Shelter,
Second Stage Housing and Counselling
Services of Huron are "very excited," she
said.
Speaking during the site's launch,
Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt called the
work done by the Women's Shelter one
of the areas most important services that
has grown to meet the challenges pre-
sented over the years.
"I was mayor when there wasn't these
types of services," he said.
Now, women can access all of the ser-
vices provided by the shelter with the
simple click of a button.
But the circumstances are always dif-
ficult, and Hansen noted the site also has
educational material, allowing women to
learn what constitutes abuse as well as
providing an avenue to safety afterward.
"It's a forum for help," she said. "Con-
sistent and concise."
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - Page Al 1
Photos by Gerard Creces
Executive director Michele Hansen (left) addresses the women attending the launch of the Women's Shelter's new Web site.
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