2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: YWCA Transitional Housing Project

YWCA Transitional Housing Project Provides Homes for Homeless Women and Children

Charleston, West Virginia. The YWCA Transitional Housing Project in Charleston, West Virginia provides affordable housing and supportive services to homeless and battered women and children. The project has recently completed renovating 10 apartments in a building that had long stood vacant that will serve women who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. To provide resources for the project and develop job-training opportunities for residents, two retail establishments have been created on-site. Residents may live at the transitional

Debby Weinstein receiving Best of the Best award from Secretary Cuomo (l) and Deputy Secretary Ramirez (r)

housing project for up to 24 months while they receive a wide range of supportive services to help them become self-sufficient and enable them to remain in a safe environment. Residents work with experienced case managers and have the opportunity to receive adult education, budgeting guidance, job training, parenting education and other services that will enable them to live independently. Criteria for selection for the program include an individual’s motivation to achieve self-sufficiency. The Kanawha Valley Collective and the city of Charleston identified the need for a program to assist homeless women and victims of violence with long-term services. The YWCA is working in partnership with other organizations to obtain referrals for residents and provide services. One service is the Sisters Mentoring Program, which will match residents with professional women who can mentor them in the skills needed to live on their own and maintain employment. Workshops for residents also will teach skills, such as basic home repair, that will aid participants in living on their own. Initial funding was made available through HUD’s Continuum of Care program. Residents who are employed will contribute one-third of their income toward rent. An innovative partnership with two retail stores located adjacent to the apartments will provide both funding and job training for the program’s residents. The YWCA, noting the challenge of maintaining constant funding for the project, launched the Past n’ Present used clothing store and a gourmet coffee shop named Perkin’ Up to support the program. Volunteers contribute time to both operations to keep costs low. Eventually, both stores will provide opportunities to enhance job skills and experience for residents who need employment training. Contact: Debby Weinstein, Phone: (304) 340-3555 Tracking Number: 1503 Winning Category: Geographic

Content Archived: April 20, 2011