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YWCA of Seattle - King County - Snohomish County 

Description

The YWCA opens doors to opportunity for women and families facing poverty, violence and discrimination. With more than 100 years' experience, the YWCA is the leading organization for moving women and families out of crisis and empowering them to achieve lasting independence.

Mission Statement
The mission of the YWCA is to advance the quality of life for women of all ages, races, and faiths and their families. In support of this mission, the YWCA provides services to meet critical needs, promote self-sufficiency, reduce violence, eliminate racism and achieve equal opportunities for all people.
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YWCA of Seattle - King County - Snohomish County
1118 Fifth Avenue 
Seattle 
WA
98101 
(206) 461-4888 

Ms. Sue Sherbrooke 
Chief Executive Officer 

Programs

YWCA of Seattle - King County - Snohomish County Programs

Answering homelessness with safe, stable homes
The YWCA provides transitional housing with individualized life coaching and affordable permanent housing for working families, seniors and people with disabilities. YWCA Family Village at Issaquah provides 146 apartments, a child care facility for 150 children and community spaces and activities such as parenting classes and computer education. YWCA Passage Point provides permanent housing for those emerging from the corrections system who are seeking to reunite with their children. With 885 housing units in King and Snohomish counties, the YWCA is already one of the largest providers of housing for homeless women and families in our region.

Providing emergency services to sustain lives with dignity
The YWCA offers day, overnight and 90-day emergency shelters and services specifically for female victims of domestic violence and their families. We also have Angeline's Centers, one in Seattle and one in Bellevue, offering chronically homeless and very low-income women a safe, warm place to eat, do laundry, shower and get connected with resources.

Offering resources for economic self-sufficiency
At our career development and WorkSource centers, the YWCA offers vocational and technology training, specialized coaching for homeless individuals and homemakers entering the workforce, computer classes, resume help and additional resources for job-seekers. Through our Dress for Success and Working Wardrobe programs, we provide high-quality professional apparel, networking opportunities and career coaching. YWCA BankWork$ provides 8 weeks of free instruction, job placement and ongoing career coaching to low-income job seekers with an interest in the banking industry.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

In 2011, the YWCA connected more than 64,000 people in King and Snohomish counties with vital housing and emergency services, employment training, domestic violence services, youth programs and health care access.

Last year, our YWCA saw a ten percent surge in the number we served from 2010 and an increase of 22,000 people during the past five years. The recession has disproportionately affected the poorest among us—many of whom are women and people of color—bringing even more urgency to the work of our YWCA. This increase in client need comes at a time of substantial decreases in government funding, making private funding sources an even more crucial element to meet the increased community needs.

Evaluation


The YWCA provides a continuum of comprehensive housing and support services to help families achieve long term housing stability and improve their economic self sufficiency.

Proven Success
The YWCA continues to add housing units to their portfolio. Two thirds of their budget is dedicated to housing and they provide emergency, transitional and permanent housing for women and children. They currently operate 885 units of housing. YWCA Passage Point, located at the former Cedar Hills substance abuse treatment facility in Maple Valley, was completed in June 2011 and provides 46 units of supportive housing and services.

The YWCA Family Village at Issaquah is a 203,000 square foot facility on donated property in Issaquah Highlands that includes: 146 apartments for people with incomes 0-60% of median, including 10 units set aside for families transitioning from a period of homelessness to stability; a child care center for 150 children, including 41 subsidized slots for low-income working families; employment services and family support.

Use of Best Practices
The Landlord Liaison Project (LLP) is managed by the YWCA. It is a partnership among landlords, property managers, participating human services agencies and homeless people with barriers to accessing permanent housing. The goal of LLP is to offer homeless individuals and families who were previously denied by landlords help with accessing permanent housing, signing leases and moving into otherwise vacant units. As of 2009, they have placed more than 1,335 households in rental units who faced significant housing barriers. The program in now positioned to expand with additional funds from the City of Seattle and King County.

Financial Health
YWCA’s revenue comes from a variety of sources. Although 48% of their 2012 budget is from government funds, they come from over 150 separate grants given by over 25 different government entities. A majority of their public funds are federal dollars that pass thru the state and county. The City of Seattle has sustained their level of support.

Sustainability
Two years ago YWCA launched the Women Empowered (WE) Campaign in an effort to raise money to meet the increased needs of women in the community. The goal was to raise $26.5 million in operating, capital and endowment funds by December 2012. As of August 2012 they had raised $22.5 million and were committed to securing the remaining $3.95 million by the end of the year.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2013 $20,000.00provide general operating support.
3/10/2012 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/10/2011 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/10/2009 $60,000.00support the YWCA Family Village at Issaquah Capital Campaign.
6/21/2007 $10,000.00expand the GirlsFirst program to reach girls enrolled in alternative high schools.
12/15/2005 $75,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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