Two homes are being knocked down in south Edmonton starting Tuesday to make way for an expansion to breast cancer patient housing.

Sorrentino’s Compassion House, located at 109 Street and 76 Avenue, provides six suites for out-of-town breast cancer patients during their radiation at the Cross Cancer Institute. By next year, the organization hopes to host more than twice as many women going through treatment

Reina Asselin, a breast cancer patient who lives in Fort McMurray, called the Compassion House her home away from home for two weeks while she went through treatment.

“It just makes you feel good and makes the treatments go by faster. You meet so many nice people and make many friends. You’ll never forget them,” Asselin said.

The $5 million expansion will allow Compassion House to host 14 women as well as have larger common areas for volunteer visits, said executive director Mellissa Kraft. Compassion House doesn’t receive government funding and has raised about 60 per cent of their goal.

“We’ve received contributions from (outlying towns) and we’re really happy to see those communities support the expansion because that’s where the woman come from,” Kraft added.

The Compassion House expansion should be completed by fall 2013.

About Compassion House:

• Women get accepted into the Compassion House on a first come, first serve basis and pay $25 a night, $35 if they have a companion.
• Each suite accommodates a guest and companion.
• They are also provided with a free shuttle to the Cross Cancer Institute as well as some volunteer programs.