Jubilee Women's Center Programs
Jubilee’s programs help empower women to take control of their futures.
Dedicated care management provides support, coaching and advocacy for residents. Together, care managers and residents create goals to build a road map to independent living. We connect women with outside resources such as legal assistance, independent housing assistance, financial resources, employment resources, educational and job training programs, health care and mental health therapy so they can achieve their goals.
On-site technology and life skills training, workshops and one-on-one skills coaching for residents and alumnae are critical. Jubilee’s classes offer more than just access to computers; they also offer a supportive learning environment with quality training. Our curriculum prepares women to be employable and competitive for higher wage and higher skilled jobs. Life skills classes help women acquire the necessary tools to create healthy and productive lives.
Community living and accountability are vital to our program. Living in community presents personal development opportunities for our residents to practice essential life skills such as healthy communication, conflict resolution and cultural understanding. These real-life learning opportunities are invaluable to each woman’s personal growth and confidence.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Since our founding, Jubilee has helped transform the lives of hundreds of women. Last year, 83% of Jubilee’s residents successfully made the transition to independent living. Additionally, 75% of Jubilee residents seeking employment found jobs and 92% of the women who could increase their income did so, on average doubling their income.
Alumnae express what Jubilee means to them:
“I didn't have any sense of purpose when I first came - I knew I had to change my life but wasn't sure how to do it. Under the guidance of my care manager, I came to know the things I needed to work on. I am now in my own apartment and going back to school to be a social worker. Now I am doing instead of wishing.”
“What I found here was not just a place to keep a roof over my head, but a place of support, safety and encouragement.”
“When I left Jubilee I had the tools in my belt to get things done I had to do. With all the classes available I learned how to deal with my emotions better and how to use Word on computers. I learned at Jubilee that I AM AND I CAN. I am forever grateful to have walked through the doors of Jubilee. That is where I started my new life and journey.”
The economic recession has altered the face of homelessness and diminished services available to homeless and low-income women. At Jubilee, we continue to see a significant increase in women with no safety net seeking housing and support. More women are finding themselves homeless after a devastating illness or job loss wipes out a lifetime of savings. Furthermore, fleeing domestic violence forces women to leave behind everything they’ve worked to build in order to save their life. Many women at Jubilee are older, the average age is 49, and have dedicated their lives to raising their children. When their marriage ended they found themselves without a home, means to pay a rent or the skills necessary to gain employment in the current, competitive job market. Additionally, many Jubilee residents face overwhelming debt due to an economic catastrophe.
Jubilee’s highest strategic priority is to deepen our ability to respond to the needs of the women living at Jubilee, alumnae and other homeless and low-income women. We want to fund an education center to better serve current residents and increase our capacity to serve more low-income women in our community. Trainings and classes will help women gain vital skills (i.e., money management, employment readiness) necessary to achieving economic self-sufficiency and stability.