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YWCA housing for researchers

YWCA Toronto has been involved in the development and management of housing for homeless and marginalized women since its founding in 1873. Beginning with the provision of housing for young women working in exploitative conditions in the rapidly growing factory production of Toronto in the 1870’s, YWCA housing has always provided more than just a roof. Throughout our history we have been both a service-provider and an advocate for women and girls.

Today, the housing we run is considered "supportive housing", because it recognizes that whether the accommodation is for short or long term stays, the adult and young women and children we house are not only poor but also face many other challenges that make it difficult for them to acquire and maintain appropriate housing. All our sites have qualified staff that work with the residents to achieve stability in their lives, and assist each tenant to establish new lives for themselves. Community and childcare workers assist each person in developing and implementing a plan to achieve these goals through counselling, education and programming. Maintenance and administrative staff understand the importance of creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for the residents, many of whom are fleeing violence in the home or from the street or in their countries of origin.

The YWCA has a range of housing services that respond to the long term and crisis needs of women and children. They include the following operational tasks:

• Managing a continuum of accommodation options from emergency shelters to permanent affordable housing to respond to the needs of at-risk women and their families.
• Integrating housing and shelter programs with counselling and support services specialized to meet the unique needs of women and children who have experienced violence.
• Supporting women to develop skills to live independently.
• Providing women in crisis assistance with long range planning, Life Skills counselling and job training to support their transition to permanent housing.
• Facilitating and improving women’s access to critical community resources including health, social services and legal support.
• Providing supports to assist a multicultural, diverse population in the Greater Toronto Area, and integrate access and equity principles in all our programs.

more

breakthrough
choices for living
YWCA beatrice house
YWCA arise
YWCA women's shelter
1st stop woodlawn
pape avenue apartments
humewood drive housing
housing for researchers
researchers housing portfolio
new developments - bergamot
ywca elm centre

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here to help
teen mothers program
women’s housing advocacy group
family support centre
childcare