“We are all human, and we all have stories,” said Elisabeth Zimmermann, Executive Director of YWCA Niagara Region. Each person helped by the YWCA is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
“Women who come to us for support are often struggling with a number of things – it could be mental illness, homelessness, violence, human trafficking, addiction…the list goes on. The one thing they all have in common is they’ve all experienced trauma.”
United Way’s investments in YWCA’s programming have a “profound impact on the day-to-day operations,” said Zimmermann. YWCA receives funding for several programs that support women at all stages in their journey. “Women who come to us for support are often struggling with a number of things – it could be mental illness, homelessness, violence, human trafficking, addiction…the list goes on. The one thing they all have in common is they’ve all experienced trauma.”
“When you consider the diverse challenges facing marginalized women just to access basic necessities, it becomes increasingly clear that living in poverty is a full-time job,” she reflects. YWCA shelter advocates spent 1,575 hours in 2023 working with shelter guests on various case management tasks, the equivalent of working full-time for nearly a year, with the goal of securing safe and affordable housing.
“There was a woman who had been chronically homeless for years. She had experienced unimaginable trauma in her life – but she amazed us all. She utilized many of our programs, including supportive housing, moved to independent housing and ended up going back to school,” Zimmermann recalled. In other cases, something as simple as gaining the courage and confidence to say ‘good morning’ or even returning the next day is a big step.
Programs offered at YWCA build resilience, teach invaluable life skills, support women in recovery, secure housing in some cases or maintain housing in others. The agency provides comprehensive support services for marginalized women and their families, a vital resource greatly needed to meet the increased demand. “Given the current crises regarding opioids, mental health, homelessness and gender-based violence, we are seeing more clients with increasingly complex issues who need a lot of support to move forward,” said Zimmermann. Success is not linear, and it looks different for everyone.
“There was a woman who had been chronically homeless for years. She had experienced unimaginable trauma in her life – but she amazed us all. She utilized many of our programs, including supportive housing, moved to independent housing and ended up going back to school,” Zimmermann recalled. In other cases, something as simple as gaining the courage and confidence to say ‘good morning’ or even returning the next day is a big step.
YWCA’s work is rooted in addressing inequities that affect women and their families in poverty. The wraparound support they provide every day is made possible by donors like you.
