Causes

Human services Employment services Housing & homelessness

Posted by

Lindsy C.

Chief Program Officer, Expanding Opportunity

Our mission

YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley is proud to be part of a national movement dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. For over 140 years, we have been champions and vocal advocates on behalf of women, girls and people of color, offering a rich array of services to meet the needs of a wide range of community members.

What we do

YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley powers its mission with programs focused on 1) empowering people and communities in healing from the trauma of racism, bigotry and violence, 2) achieving solutions to homelessness for people impacted by racism, gender inequality, and violence and 3) inspiring opportunity and economic security by closing the prosperity and education gap. We focus the provision of these services to those impacted by race and gender inequality, and we use an intersectional and intergenerational approach that recognizes the compounding impact of oppression.
To that end, your YWCA provides programs and services that form a critical continuum of response for all of the clients we serve in our many programs throughout the Bay Area. We offer healing, empowerment and prevention programs to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking and their families. We offer housing continuum options, like homelessness prevention, motelling, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, affordable housing and both commercial and residential property management. We provide licensed childcare (full day and afterschool) in addition to contracted childcare services to Housing partners, ensuring quality and affordable childcare services for families ages 6 weeks to 13 years of age. While their children are in a safe environment, parents and caregivers are on the path to economic or educational fulfillment. Your YWCA's FiftyPlus Employment Program empowers economically vulnerable women over the age of 50 to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment. We offer job training and placement services specifically tailored to the unique barriers and needs of this population at no cost. In addition, in response to the global pandemic we have expanded our employment services to launch new 60+ Career Express & Tech Success programs, supporting older adults of all genders with upskilling for a virtual workplace and navigating the complexities of finding and keeping work during COVID19 and a national recession.
While your YWCA serves clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages, the individuals and families we serve are often at the intersections of racism, sexism, violence, and trauma. Through thoughtful, multidimensional, culturally responsive programming we remove barriers, seek inclusion, and fight systems of inequity. In 2020, YWCA impacted over 13,000 individuals and families with services. Client demographics include: 89% female, over 85% identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), 11% LGBTQ, and over 90% fall within the extremely low to low income categories (as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Additionally, all core services are offered for free, with the exception of a nominal sliding scale fee for therapy. Subsidies are available for childcare and affordable housing, thus making services available to everyone regardless of economic status.
Your YWCA is powered by the efforts of 140 employees that reflect the communities that we serve. Eighty-percent of employees identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color and over 95% identify as women.