GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A domestic abuse shelter has more than doubled its space, allowing the Green Bay organization to serve additional victims and families.
The Golden House held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at its new $10.1 million facility on the site of its former building at 1120 University Avenue.
The facility went from a 15,000 square-foot, 11-room facility to a 35,000 square-foot facility with 20 rooms, each equipped with its own bathroom and kitchenette.
In addition to more client bedrooms, the new facility includes shared spaces for all clients including a resource room with computers to use for housing searching, job searches and work on resumes as well as space for support groups and outreach; a children’s playroom; a teen room; and a serenity room that clients or staff can use for meditation or self-reflection. There is also increased outreach office space.
Executive director, Cheeia Lo, says the goal was to create a safe space where families could come and feel comfortable and heal.
Lo says the need for the shelter’s services has been steadily increasing. So far this year, Golden House has provided shelter to more than 333 families. Last year, it served 310 families. She also adds that its hotline averages about 1,000 calls per month.
“The demand for Golden House’s services continues to increase. Prior to the pandemic, we knew more room was needed,” Lo said.
The Golden House broke ground on the project in August of 2022. Lo says it still has $2 million to raise for the campaign.
“It means the world to us to receive this much support because we truly cannot do our work and we truly cannot serve our clients that walk through our door without the community, whether that’s volunteers coming in to help us with meals, cleaning the building or donations. There is no such thing as too little or too small of a donation,” Lo said.
For more information on Golden House services or ways to donate or volunteer, click here.
Staff have started moving into the new facility and it’s expected to fully open and start serving families by the end of the month.
