The YWCA of Elyria operates affordable, safe, and well-maintained transitional and permanent supportive housing for low and extremely low-income women, many of whom have special needs. The supportive housing environment fosters independence, focusing on housing retention, vocational development, and employment, helping break the cycle of homelessness. The YWCA provides housing without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or disability.

The Elyria YWCA operates the Women’s Campus Project, the first residential project for homeless women in Lorain County. The project provides transitional housing in several homes owned by the YWCA.

Transitional housing is the bridge from homelessness to permanence. The building blocks of this bridge are supportive services, goal setting and time to carry out those goals. The journey to cross this bridge begins when a woman is ready to make a commitment to change her life.

The Women’s Campus Project is an opportunity for homeless women to enter into a process of self discovery and growth that will enable them to become self-sufficient, productive citizens. The program goes beyond providing basic needs. It addresses the personal issues that have caused each woman to be without a home. With help from staff and up to two years in the residence, each participant has the opportunity for change.

A variety of activities, programs, speakers and workshops are offered to help participants learn to overcome barriers, build self-esteem and deal with their personal issues. Some of the topics that will be addressed are parenting skills, budgeting, education, job readiness, food preparation, self defense and abuse.

Eligibility requirements for this program are:

• Between 18 and 60 years of age
  
• Referred through organizations and agencies such as:
  

  • The Haven
    
  • Genesis House
    
• Other shelters, agencies and religious organizations
  
• Motivated to make positive changes
  
• Physically and emotionally able and willing to participate in education, job training and employment
  
• Able to function independently
  
• Not actively abusing drugs/alcohol

Participants in the project will demonstrate a strong commitment to make changes in their lives and seek professional help for serious personal problems. Participants must also be responsible about following a goal plan and devote a minimum of 40 hours a week toward attending school, actively seeking employment or community service, and must be evaluated regularly by staff.

“Making good choices for today, creates great opportunities for tomorrow”
The Elyria YWCA Youth Services Program (YSP) has established itself as a service provider and advocate for youth initiatives within Lorain County. Through innovative, creative, and consistent quality programming we have addressed the needs and interests of the youth in our community. Our experience in youth employment, employment training, and job readiness are consistent with the Performance Accountability Measures as established by the Department of Labor.

The Elyria YWCA YSP is committed to providing quality, age appropriate programming for the youth of Lorain County without regard of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
The Youth Services Program presently consists of individual programs and activities that address some of the varied needs and interest of our diverse community. These programs are comprehensive and designed to facilitate the overall development of our youth. The curriculum - activity based programs expose youth to ideas and concepts that help develop and promote healthy lifestyles. The program emphasizes the connection between the youth and the resources and assets of our greater community.

Community service is an integral component present in all of our individual programs. We implement community service activities, at both the group level as well as the individual level. We feel one of our responsibilities is to promote good citizenship, a community of caring and helpful people.

The Youth Services fall under four categories: Developmental, Educational, Recreational, and Vocational. Our programs are specifically designed to serve the underserved youth of our community. Our program is motivated by the need of our community and the fulfillment of our mission.

YWCA Hallmark programs must meet three criteria: address racial justice or women’s economic empowerment, have a direct impact on the community; and identify quantifiable program goals.

The Community Anti-Hate Taskforce (C.A.T.) is a collaboration between the Elyria and Lorain YWCAs, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the F.B.I. and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission with the support of the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department. C.A.T promotes tolerance and understanding between diverse communities within Lorain County. Since 2004 the Elyria and Lorain YWCAs have been active participants in The Northeast Ohio Hate-Crimes Working Group.

Parts of Lorain County, including Lorain and Elyria, have been experiencing the symptoms of a socially and economically depressed community. C.A.T helps send strong messages to hate groups that Lorain County is not an option for them.

The Taskforce meets quarterly at the LCCC Spitzer Conference Center. The purpose of these meetings is to plan conferences and programs as well as to hear committee reports.

For information on becoming a member contact:

Jeanine Donaldson, Elyria YWCA
(440) 322-6308

YWCA Hallmark programs must meet three criteria: address racial justice or women’s economic empowerment, have a direct impact on the community; and identify quantifiable program goals.

The Women’s Center in Lorain is a place where women and their families can come to learn about their health, access information, raise awareness of important issues, and receive essential services from local agencies. By providing a variety of health and community services in one central location, the women’s Center in Lorain helps empower women and their families to lead healthier, happier lives.

Project Reach

At the Women’s Center in Lorain the YWCA runs the Project Reach which provides breast cancer outreach, education and clinical breast exam/mammogram referrals specifically targeted to Lorain County’s African American, Latino and homeless women.

Women are able to receive services at the center on a drop-in basis and regardless of ability to pay for clinical breast exams and mammogram prescriptions. We will continue to refer women to Community Health Partners for mammograms through the American Cancer Society’s B.E.S.T. program. The Project Director follows up on all referrals by telephone and transports women to all screenings as needed. Women who attend all their screenings are treated to a Day of Pampering.

Workshops

The YWCA provides workshops and seminars on a variety of topics that empower women and support families.

Bellefaire is an innovative agency that provides exceptional care and advocacy to enhance the emotional, physical and intellectual well-being of children and families. At the Women’s Center, mental health professionals provide play therapy, along with family and individual counseling, using modern, effective methods to devise treatment plans tailored to needs of each client. We address:

• Down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers
  
• 100% financing with no PMI
  
• Financing for home improvements
  
• Refinancing with no closing costs
  

Home Savings and Loan provides affordable housing programs and diverse products to fit everybody’s needs. At the Women’s center, Home Savings and Loan offers:

• Down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers
  
• 100% financing with no PMI
  
• Financing for home improvements
  
• Refinancing with no closing costs
  

At the Women’s Center, Planned Parenthood provides a broad range of high-quality health care and family planning services to women of all ages, including:

• Pap tests and breast exams
  
• Birth control, including condoms
  
• Emergency contraception (EC)
  
• Pregnancy testing and counseling
  
• Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment
  
• Early cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment
  
• Urinary tract infection diagnosis and treatment
  

Since 1852, Beech Brook has been committed to helping children and strengthening families. Today our work continues through a wide range of programs for children and youth struggling with emotional or behavioral issues. AT the Women’s Center, Beech Brook provides:

• Diagnostic assessment
  
• Individual therapy
  
• Family and multi-family therapy
  
• Crisis intervention and safety planning
  
• Therapy using play and creative expression
  
• Case management and community support
  

For more information call us at 216.831.2255, toll-free at 877.546.1225, or visit us online at www.beechbrook.org

Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center addresses health disparities and economic needs for Latinos and underserved minorities in Lorain County. At the Women’s Center, the Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center provides:

• Proyecto Luz (Project light), a faith-based HIV/AIDS prevention, education and case management program
  
  
• Cultural competency training seminars for a variety of audiences
  

For more information, call 216.651.8236 or visit us online at www.proyecto-luz.org

Project Reach

The Project Reach program provides breast cancer outreach, education and clinical breast exam/mammogram referrals specifically targeted to Lorain County’s African American, Latino and homeless women. The Elyria YWCA conducts educational sessions in homeless shelters and predominantly African-American and Hispanic Churches.

Women will also be referred to the YWCA Women’s Center in Lorain. These women will be able to receive services at the center on a drop-in basis and regardless of ability to pay for clinical breast exams and mammogram prescriptions. We will continue to refer women to Community Health Partners for mammograms through the American Cancer Society’s B.E.S.T. program. The Project Director follows up on all referrals by telephone and transports women to all screenings as needed. Women who attend all their screenings are treated to a Day of Pampering.

The Elyria YWCA coordinates an October breast cancer education event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The YWCA also creates a support group for all breast cancer survivors. These individuals are than honored at a luncheon.

The Elyria YWCA Dance Program under the direction of dancer and choreographer Coleen Sweeny-Dziak is a stellar program model. The goal of the program is to provide quality instruction at a family-friendly fee. Dance students range in age between 3 to 18 years old. Instruction is offered in ballet, tap and jazz.

Each year the highlight of the season is the annual dance recital. The YWCA Dance Program fulfills the mission of the YWCA by empowering girls to become poised and confident through dance.

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland offers health and wellness services to the Elyria community in collaboration with the Elyria YWCA. The YMCA of Greater Cleveland took over management of the Wellness service and provides a full staff all day with qualified, certified fitness professionals to give members individualized person attention during every visit. The YMCA totally remodeled and refurbished the previously-existing YWCA wellness center offering strength machines and cardio equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals and bikes. The spacious ballroom hosts our SilverSneakers classes for older adults.

For more information, please leave a message on our Lorain County YMCA Information Line at 216.263.6895