Black mould discovery prompts closure of women's shelter in northwestern Alberta
CBC
The discovery of black mould in the Peace River Regional Women's Shelter means staff can't house women and children escaping violence at home until at least March.
Families staying at the shelter were immediately relocated in late November after the mould was found on the building's second floor while contractors were replacing windows.
Subsequent investigations found black mould in the basement where the building's three furnaces are located.
A health and safety assessment found the first floor of the building was safe for staff to continue their work doing outreach and providing what services they can. But the shelter can't take anyone in.
Carol Van Slyke, chair of the shelter's board of directors, said staff had to turn away 13 adults and 11 children in the first two weeks of the closure. The closest shelter is in Fairview, about 80 kilometres west.
Van Slyke said she is worried about January, the busiest time of the year for women's shelters.
"We feel terrible with the fact that we're not going to be available to house people," she said.
Black mould can cause health problems, especially for people with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma
Preliminary estimates suggest remediation and repair of the shelter will cost at least $380,000.
Van Slyke said the bill will likely be higher as the full extent of the damage still isn't known. Workers still need to open up the walls around more of the windows and the formal estimate for the basement still isn't complete.
Work is starting right away but lack of money is a problem. The board has reached out to the provincial government, the Town of Peace River, local counties and First Nations for help.
Van Slyke remains optimistic that governments and people in the community will step up.
"Whether it's at the provincial level, whether it's at the municipality level, whether it's at the town level, we have faith that they will help it in whatever way they can," she said.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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