BY B.G. GREGG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will tour a shelter for abused women when she visits Cincinnati on Monday for a fund-raiser.
Mrs. Clinton will tour the YWCA's Battered Women's Shelter hours before its grand opening. The organization spent 1 1/2 years renovating the $1.6 million shelter so that it could serve more abused women.
"This will triple our capacity, from 21 to 60," said Charlene Ventura, executive director of the YWCA.
"For the last few months, we've had a waiting list of 60 to 70 people."
Mrs. Clinton is scheduled to attend a private reception and fund-raiser at Music Hall for Mayor Roxanne Qualls and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland. Ms. Qualls is battling incumbent Republican Steve Chabot for the 1st Congressional District seat, and Mr. Strickland is fighting Ohio Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister for the 6th Congressional District seat he now holds.
Ms. Ventura said the YWCA shelter helps about 500 women a year. Abused women and their children can stay anywhere from one to 30 days, escaping domestic violence until they can stabilize their lives.
The 11,300-foot shelter contains a place for children to be home-schooled. It also includes play areas, an industrial kitchen and other amenities, Ms. Ventura said.
The YWCA received $1 million in donations and collected the rest in federal, state and city grants.
It replaces the Alice Paul House, which was one of the first seven shelters for abused women in the nation when it opened in 1978.
