Margaret Laurence House is a second stage transitional housing program for women who have children residing with them and who are leaving abusive intimate relationships.

Margaret Laurence House is a safe place to live and gain support in the first year out of an abusive relationship.  While at Margaret Laurence House individual supportive counseling is offered.  We work from a feminist counseling perspective to help women establish their goals and develop strategies to meet those goals.  Topics that are commonly discussed in counseling include but are not limited to:  self-esteem, healthy communication, parenting, boundaries, healthy relationships, managing anxiety and trauma.  We support women to maintain productive relationships with other community agencies as appropriate and to continue to build outside supports.  A focus of support at Margaret Laurence House is to empower women to regain a sense of strength in the wake of disempowering relationships.

As part of the Program, speakers are offered on topics of interest to the residents and presented to them as a group.  Some recent speakers have spoken on Non-violent Communication, Budgeting, Sexual Health and on Internet Safety.  We often gather as a community for fun, community building events such as craft nights, outings, or just to share a meal in the backyard.  Margaret Laurence House is a safe, supportive place to live while families make plans for their future.

The complex has three – two bedroom units and three – three bedroom units. We can sometimes accommodate families with more than 2 children in our larger 3 bedroom units.  The rent is geared to income.  There is a common backyard and a room that contains the office, the laundry, a sitting area and a computer for your use.