Bermuda’s new safe house has been forced to open its doors early to meet the growing demand of abused women and children with nowhere else to go.Those in need have already moved into the $2.2 million purpose-built shelter even though some of the rooms are still being furnished. Women who have fled their partners started to move into the 27-bed safe house as soon as building work was completed as they “needed an immediate roof over their heads”.The “bigger and better” safe house has been funded entirely by donations and replaces the former outdated 15-bed shelter that was at the same secret location.It is the Island’s only safe house and for the first time it is also preparing to take in sex assault victims who are too scared to return home. The Centre Against Abuse is currently in talks with the police’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) so they can assist victims on an “as and when needed basis”.Laurie Shiell, executive director of the Centre Against Abuse, said they had doubled the size of the shelter as there was “a real need” in Bermuda.She said abused women were often left to seek help in the middle of the night with no belongings but the clothes they were wearing.Ms Shiell said: “There’s such a need for this safe house in Bermuda. The building is ready and we have welcomed our first residents, but we’re just getting finished with the furnishing. It’s not quite completed inside but people have moved in as they urgently needed a place to stay.”The safe house has long been a dream of the Centre Against Abuse and it finally became a reality thanks to a generous donation of $2 million from the Campbell Charitable Trust.The Campbell Charitable Trust was set up in memory of the late Patrick and Beryl Campbell who retired to Bermuda and were determined to create a legacy of philanthropy.It has taken about a year to build and during that time the charity has rented private accommodation for women and children.Ms Shiell admits there were a few tears when staff were showed around the new safe house for the first time.She said: “This new safe house is such an improvement on what we used to have.“We are so excited about the future. This safe house is so vital to the community and the donation means that the Island will always have somewhere for women and children to go.”The two-storey building has nine bedrooms, each with three beds and ensuite bathrooms, plus hotel-style adjoining doors so that mothers can be placed in rooms next to their children.The facility also has a kitchen, dining room, TV room, laundry, office and staff quarters, as well as a second-hand store where women and children can help themselves to clothes.Donations of $20,000 from the ACE Foundation and $17,000 from Hiscox have paid for many of the rooms to be furnished.However, the Centre Against Abuse has also set up a gift registry at International Imports so that members of the public can help kit out the safe house’s kitchen.The registry includes everything from pots and pans to cutlery and table cloths, with items starting at less than $5. Gift certificates from International Imports would also be welcomed.