Young Womens Christian Association

THE ASSOCIATION OPERATES A WOMEN'S SHELTER WHICH PROVIDES CONFIDENTIAL TEMPORARY SHELTER, COUNSELING AND CARE TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES COUNSELING, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND TRAINING, SUPPORT GROUPS AND A 24 HOURS CRISIS LINE.

IN THIS PAST YEAR THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN TO SEE THE REAL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC BOTH IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ON THE LIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CLIENTS. THE PANDEMIC IN MANY WAYS EXACERBATED LIVING CONDITIONS FOR MANY PEOPLE WHICH RESULTED IN INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION SAW MONTH OVER MONTH INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING RESTRAINING ORDERS AND AS SOCIETY BEGAN TO OPEN UP, MORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE BETTER ABLE TO ESCAPE ABUSIVE SITUATIONS TO ACCESS EITHER SHELTER SERVICES OR HELP WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING COSTS THROUGH THE DV HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE 2,117 CALLS TO THE CRISIS LINE, WITH 34 CALLS IN ONE DAY ALONE. LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR TO WORK TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH A GENEROUS AWARD FROM THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION. AFTER INTENSIVE TRAINING ON THE PROGRAM FOR THE STAFF, THE ORGANIZSATION WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH 59 WOMEN TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR FINANCES, WOMEN WHO ALL TOO OFTEN HAD HAD THEIR AGENCY TO MANAGE THEIR OWN MONEY TAKEN BY AN ABUSER. ANOTHER OF THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR WAS THE WORK TO INCREASE CAPACITY IN ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY ADOPTING A WHOLE SYSTEM APPROACH. THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO OFFER TRAININGS AND SUPPORT WITH DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT SUPPORT ANYONE IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FOOD INSECURITY FOR CLIENTS IS NOT GOING AWAY AND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO OFFER BI-WEEKLY FOOD PACKS TO UP TO 80 FAMILIES. ALL OF THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY A DEDICATED AND SKILLED TEAM ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY AND THE SUPPORTIVE GOVERNANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.