An Ottawa shelter for women and children who are victims of violence and abuse could close for good, according to an email sent to staff by the shelter's lawyers.

Operations at Nelson House, a 15-bed home in the nation's capital, shut down temporarily early last week in part because the shelter lacked an executive director.

Without someone in charge, the board said it could not guarantee the safety and viability of the shelter.

In the meantime, the seven women and their children who were staying at Nelson House have found new shelter, according to staff.

Now the shelter's board of directors is scheduled to meet next week where, the email said, members will discuss two options:

• Reduce the number of board members from 12 to three.
• Shut down the shelter.

The board said it will recommend the centre's permanent closure at the June 14 meeting, according to a statement from the board.

Staff members in shock

"We're in shock. We're in shock," said staff member Barb Sohn, who was in charge of running activities for the children at the shelter.

"We're frustrated because it was running so well, we had a wonderful group of women and six lovely children under the age of six and it broke my heart," said Sohn.

Twenty-eight staff members were suspended without pay since the temporary closure on May 25.

The province said it has not pulled the shelter's funding — about $750,000 a year — and would not do so as long as "the agency continues to meet their contractual obligations with the ministry" said provincial spokeswoman Charlotte Wilkinson.

If Nelson House closes permanently, the contract with the province would end, said Wilkinson.

Canadian Union of Public Employees representative Tony Cristiano, whose union represents the workers, said if the shelter closes, it would be a blow to the community.

"If it's a funding thing that's one thing, but this is not a funding thing," said Cristiano. "There's people willing to step up to run this operation and the door's being shut for that to happen. It's a shame."

Nelson House consists of 15 beds for women and children and has been open since 1991.