HUD Region VII Honors the YWCA Cass Clay of North Dakota for 25 Years of Housing Program Excellence

Regional Administrator Rick Garcia travelled to Fargo, North Dakota on November 2nd to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for ten new units in the YWCA Cass Clay HUD-funded Supportive Housing Program. The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sisters) spent $1.1 million to transform unused space into 10 new apartments which will be used to support the program.

Rick Garcia, Erica Prochnow (Executive Director, YWCA), Sister Stella Olson (Presentation Sisters)
and Thomas Hill (United Way Programs Coordinator)

This year marks 25 years that the YWCA Cass Clay has been providing supportive housing services to women and children. The YWCA Cass Clay operates the largest Emergency Shelter for women and children in North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota and provides safe, affordable, short- and long-term supportive housing options for low-income women.

In addition to shelter and supportive housing, programs include children's services, education and employment programming, a food pantry, racial justice advocacy, and a nationally accredited public childcare center.

The YWCA Supportive Housing Program is a proven solution for helping families break the cycles of poverty and violence. 71% of women increase their education or income. 78% of women improve their physical and/or mental health. 92% of families secure independent, permanent homes within just two years of beginning the Supportive Housing Program.

A woman who participates in the program earns more money, is healthier, and is better equipped to live independently and create an environment for her children to thrive.

When a woman arrives at the YWCA Emergency Shelter, she often lacks the building blocks to independence: a living wage, adequate credit, childcare, and transportation. In 2014, the average length of stay at the YWCA Emergency Shelter was 42 days.

To help a woman move from crisis to independence and give her the time she needs to rebuild, the YWCA's Supportive Housing Program provides ongoing support and advocacy for women and their families. On average, a woman stays in the YWCA Supportive Housing Program just 24 months.

The YWCA was one of the first organizations to offer supportive housing in North Dakota. In 1990, thanks to the generosity of R.G. (Bob) and Lorry Lyngstad, the YWCA began its supportive housing with four units. Since that time, 1,775 woman and children have benefitted.

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