[StBernard] St. Bernard Battered Women's Shelter could reopen in February

[Westley Annis]

Donations of $120,000 from the Meraux Foundaton will go to the St. Bernard
Battered Women's Shelter. Shown at a ceremony are Lisa Colburn, a program
coordinator and counselor; state Rep. Nita Hutter, a member of the board for
the shelter; executive director Gail Gowland; and Rita Gue and Floyd Gue of
the Meraux Foundation. 
 
The St. Bernard Battered Women's Shelter, which had helped about 400 women a
year who were in abusive situations, has been closed since Hurricane Katrina
but could reopen in February, thanks to a donation from the Meraux
Foundation to purchase a building and set up a computer lab for job training
purposes.
A new building as emergency shelter for abused women to stay fills a big
void in St. Bernard, said Gail Gowland, executive director of the battered
women's shelter since 1994. The non-profit group is headed by a board of
directors.
 
"It gives a woman a place to stay while she makes a decision on what to
do,'' Gowland said.
 
Before the hurricane the battered women's shelter operated out of space in
the old St. Bernard Hospital, just east of the Courthouse in Chalmette.
 
But since it was closed because of damage from the hurricane, only Jefferson
and St. Tammany parishes have had women's shelters and they have been
filled, Gowland said, meaning local women had to be placed in shelters in
Baton Rouge, Shreveport and other places.
 
A donation of $100,000 from the Meraux Foundation will cover purchasing a
building in Chalmette, Gowland said, estimating it could be ready to open by
the end of February.
 
Also, a $20,000 donation will go toward starting the computer lab, she said.
"We've never had that before,'' Gowland said. Women at the shelter could
then trained on the computers to help them find jobs.
 
More than 20 women at a time could stay at the new building, she said.
Typically, about 400 women a year, referred by the Sheriff's Office,
churches and hospitals, come through such a shelter, Gowland said.
 
The number for the battered women's program in Chalmette is (504) 277-3177
and there is a statewide crisis line toll number at 1-888-411-1333.