‘It’s a bit of a crisis’: Arson forces closure of Edmonton women’s shelter

A local shelter for women is closed indefinitely after a fire broke out earlier this week.

A fire broke out at the Women’s Emergency Accommodation Centre, located at Jasper Avenue and 96 Street, at around 3 a.m. Tuesday. Barb Spencer, CEO of E4C, which runs WEAC, said the fire started in a mattress on the fourth floor.

The blaze was put out quickly but the sprinklers turned on, drenching a section of the building.

Sixty-three clients and staff made it out safely. They have now been moved to other locations, such as the Elizabeth House and Hope Mission.

Edmonton police allege the blaze was deliberately set with a lighter. A 33-year-old woman was arrested and charged with arson.

The blaze destroyed some bed, badly damaged the wall of a room and caused major smoke damage in one room.

Spencer said one-third of the building is unsafe to re-open due to water damage and structural issues with the ceilings.

“It’s not a safe building to be inside,” she said. “We have ceilings that are starting to come down a bit. We certainly have water pooling in the basement.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's not a safe building to be inside," she said. "We have ceilings that are starting to come down a bit. We certainly have water pooling in the basement."

Spencer isn’t hurt that the blaze was intentional, saying she sees it as a “cry for help.”

“It just says to us there are supports we need to put around individuals such as this young woman, as a community and as an agency…to address whatever is causing her to cry out for help.”

Spencer added she’s concerned about the impact the disruption will have on the women, saying many clients already deal with a degree of trauma.

The closure of WEAC is putting strain and pressure on other organizations in the city. There were 66 beds at the centre.

“Obviously we have a real sense of emergency of wanting to get those beds that we can opened up,” Spencer said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Obviously we have a real sense of emergency of wanting to get those beds that we can opened up," Spencer said.

Cease works with and has outreach programs for women who are victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. It often refers women to WEAC and said the temporary closure of the facility means it has one less place to refer women.

“There is no room in the inn. Where will someone go if they need that safe place. Who will we call?” executive director Kate Quinn asked.

“It’s a bit of a crisis for vulnerable women. It means some women will be homeless and vulnerable if they don’t have a place to sleep but on a park in a street.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a bit of a crisis for vulnerable women. It means some women will be homeless and vulnerable if they don't have a place to sleep but on a park in a street."

Quinn said she hopes the incident creates more conversation about the need for more beds in the city.

“What we really need in the community is more supportive housing for women with complex health issues, not just shelter needs.”

Spencer said a meeting with the insurance company and contractors will take place on Monday to determine a timeline of when the building can be reopened.