Ywca Cass Clay

THE YWCA IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.

THE YWCA EMERGENCY SHELTER IS THE LARGEST SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND PROVIDES A 45-DAY EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE EMERGENCY SHELTER IS A SAFE, LOCKED FACILITY STAFFED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. ALONG WITH HOUSING, THE SHELTER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD, PERSONAL ITEMS, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICES, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, ONSITE LICENSED CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMING. THERE ARE 25 SLEEPING ROOMS AVAILABLE WITH SHARED COMMUNITY BATHROOMS AND SEVEN PRIVATE BATHROOMS OR SHOWER ROOMS. ALL ROOMS ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE.

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RACIAL JUSTICE, AND VARIOUS OTHER SHORT TERM PROJECTS WHICH ENHANCE OUR MISSION OF ELIMINATING RACISM AND EMPOWERING WOMEN.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BECOME THE AMAZING PERSON THEY WERE BORN TO BE. YWCA SHELTER CHILDREN'S SERVICES INCLUDES LICENSED CHILDCARE AND STUDY BUDDIES AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE ODDS FOR CHILDREN WHO'VE HAD THE ODDS STACKED AGAINST THEM. MOMS FIND ONSITE CHILDCARE CRITICAL TO THEIR GOALS FOR EMPOWERMENT AND LIFE AHEAD. THEY FIND GUIDANCE TO GROW PARENTING SKILLS. BASED ON INTERACTIONS WITH A CHILD, YWCA MAY DIRECT MOMS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILD. AT YWCA, KIDS GROW THROUGH ACTIVITIES, ART, GAMES, AND OUTINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE, MEMORABLE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

THE YWCA TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM (TH) ADDRESSES THE SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR SAFE SHELTER IN CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES AND BEYOND. THE POPULATIONS SERVED THROUGH THE TH PROGRAM ARE SINGLE WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS. OTHER REASONS FOR SEEKING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING INCLUDE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, JOB LOSS, EVICTIONS, MENTAL AND/OR PHYSICAL HEALTH, RELOCATION, AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE: LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LIMITED TRANSPORTATION, INADEQUATE CHILDCARE, LACK OF MARKETABLE SKILLS/EDUCATION, POOR AND/OR LACK OF RENTAL HISTORY AND LIMITED SUPPORT SYSTEM. THE YWCA CASS CLAY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA TO OFFER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. EACH YEAR, THE YWCA TH PROGRAM RECEIVES MANY MORE APPLICATIONS THAN THE PROGRAM IS ABLE TO ACCEPT, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE HOUSING UNITS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.