The Rowan House Emergency Shelter has become an very valuable resource for the Foothills, helping numerous women and their families recover from difficult times in their lives but the shelter knows they can serve even more.

Representatives from the Rowan House made a presentation to Okotoks Town Council on October 11 to possibly expand their facilities to Okotoks in the coming years.

Executive Director Sherri Botten says they've had to turn plenty of needy families away in the past due to them being at capacity and that's something that's hard for them to do.

"We're often full because women don't have a safe and affordable house to go to after living at Rowan House so what we've been looking at over the last year is what we can do to help support the families that come to Rowan House in crisis and then still need our support," she says.

The Rowan House doesn't just serve the local community as its proximity makes it an option for Calgary families as well, Botten says having another shelter in Okotoks would be beneficial.

"Okotoks is just more central in our area and we are looking at what else we can do both for the women that come to us initially in crisis and trauma. As well as the women that still need the support and the education that we're able to offer at Rowan House but they can be living on their own in the community."

Botten adds that the shelter isn't just a place for families to lie their heads at night for a short time either.

"They may need some legal work done, they may need to have a emergency protection order, they need to get their children back in school if they've moved they need to look at school again or they may be looking at themselves for work. So that's the busyness that happens in an emergency shelter."

With the Okotoks annexation approved the Rowan House hopes the Town will keep them in mind when it comes development.