WORCESTER, Mass. — Abby's House in Worcester is celebrating the completion of a more than $5 million renovation.

The Worcester nonprofit provides shelter for homeless, battered and low-income women and children.

Renovations at their Crowne Street shelter include increasing the number of beds from nine to 18 to provide tenants with their own private space.

"The need for us in Worcester to open up a safe space to provide women shelter and the services they need to find more permanent housing is very, very important right now,” said Director of Women’s Services, Chelsea Levine. “So, starting Monday, we will be bringing in the women that we have selected that are ready to move in with their children eagerly awaiting.”

"You know, it’s an experience that getting to this final part of it, seeing it and having it really be prepared for women and children to enter, I think grounds us back in our roots,” said Executive Director Julie Orozco. “This is where Abby’s House started. And so, this renovation really represents a return to what’s core to us."

Abby’s House took over the building in 1976.

The renovations were funded by both private donations and city and state funding.