A women’s emergency shelter in Cambridge has been operating at full capacity since it opened earlier this year, and in just the past two months staff have had to turn away more than 77 service requests.

The shelter, run by YWCA in Cambridge and located inside Grace Bible Church, is currently the only 24/7 emergency shelter for women in Waterloo region. It offers 20 beds and CEO Kim Decker says the need is far greater.

“We are seeing the demand increase,” she said. “We knew that when we opened the 20 beds in our shelter that they would fill up fairly quickly.”

[Kim Decker] YWCA Cambridge CEO Kim Decker says the shelter is a "lifeline" for many women. The shelter connects women with support workers and even a doctor who provides primary health care. (YWCA Cambridge )

Women unable to acce

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