Freedom House took a major step Wednesday toward opening a shelter in Kewanee for victims of domestic violence and abuse.

The City Planning Commission unanimously approved Freedom House’s petition for a special use permit for the former Medical Arts building at 716 Elliott St. The permit will allow the agency to convert the building into the shelter.

Chloe Lund, chief operating officer for Freedom House, told the commission that the facility will be a “secure, welcoming 10-bed shelter,” which in addition to rooms for abuse victims will include children’s spaces, a library and offices for counselors who can help abuse victims.

Lund said the shelter will offer “care, compassion and confidentiality” to victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

“We know that shelters save lives,” said Michael Zerneck, chief executive officer of Freedom House. A shelter “prevents further abuse,” he said.

OSF, which acquired the Elliott Street building when it acquired the former Kewanee Hospital property, has donated the building to Freedom House. “We’re grateful to OSF for the generous donation,” Lund said.

A resident who owns property adjacent to the Elliott Street property asked if perpetrators of abuse will show up the shelter where their spouse is staying. Zerneck said that in the 44 years that Freedom House’s 28-bed shelter has operated in Princeton, that has never happened.

Zerneck said that when a victim comes to Freedom House, one of the first things the staff does is secure an order of protection for the victim. Since a spouse who violates that order can end up in jail, he said, they stay away from the shelter.

And Diana Whitney, chair of the Freedom House board of directors, said the agency has operated a counseling office in Midland Plaza for years, and there have been no problems with angry spouses there.

The Freedom House officials said the building will be extensively remodeled, with stronger windows and doors and security cameras covering public spaces in the building.

They said they hope to open the shelter by spring or early summer of next year.

Police Chief Stephen Kijanowski said his department welcomes the shelter as a valuable way of serving victims of abuse, and that the shelter will “help to break that cycle of violence.”

In a letter to the commission supporting the special-use permit, Kijanowski wrote, “We are eager to collaborate with Freedom House to ensure safety and provide comprehensive assistance from immediate protection to long-term recovery.

“We strongly urge the Zoning Board to approve the shelter, as it will have a profound and positive impact on the Kewanee community,” the letter concluded.

The permit now goes to the Kewanee City Council for final approval.