Battered women and children with nowhere to go are cramming into a four bedroom Pulaski County home, but not for long. Even though the new shelter in Waynesville sits empty, employees say it’s already changing lives. Inside an undisclosed home in Waynesville, abused women and children pack and stack themselves in an old women’s shelter. Employee and former abuse victim Shirley Mitchell says, “There’re 15 women and children in a four bedroom home." Mitchell says she knows what it's like to sleep like a sardine. She came to the shelter for help almost four years ago to escape abuse. Now as an employee she helps others do the same. Mitchell says, "When you help somebody you know why you went through what you went through.” Soon the women and children will have plenty of room when the brand new Genesis: A Place for New Beginnings Shelter opens. Executive Director Connie Chambers says, “This is going to give people space to set goals for the future and figure out what next." Right now the $1.8 million project sits empty. Chambers says, "We are on pins and needles, everything is set up." Everything is ready but a water pipe for the shelter’s sprinkler system. Until the rain stops and the ground dries, heavy machinery can’t fix the shelter’s only glitch. Employees say comparing the shelter's meager beginning to the new spacious state-of-the-art building is worth the wait. Mitchell says, “I came here with five dollars in my pocket, three kids and a truck that didn't work." Three times as many women will get the same support Mitchell did. Mitchell says not only did the shelter help her find a job but confidence and independence. Mitchell is even buying her first home as soon as soon as paperwork is complete. For the second time Mitchell and her family is back in the shelter until they move. They’re moving to the old women’s shelter. Mitchell says, “We're back here because we’re buying the place. God has brought us full circle. This is our home.” Mitchell and her family can move in when the rest of the women move into the new shelter. The move-in date depends on the weather. http://media.kspr.com/images/shelter22.jpg http://media.kspr.com/images/shelter17.jpg