YWCA NIAGARA REGION
The YWCA Niagara Region provides emergency shelter, food, and assistance to women and their families living in poverty. We are a feminist organization that is committed to social change, and we work to create an equitable community.
In 2018, we started working on developing a new strategic plan, which we are now proud to share with all of our supporters. Please see below for our new mission and vision statements and check out our strategic plan for an in-depth understanding of what we have planned for the next five years.
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For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have walked on this land; their relationship with the land is at the center of their lives and spirituality. We believe it is important to acknowledge our presence on the ancestral lands governed by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement between the settlers, the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe Peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation, may we always seek to respect the history, spirituality, and culture of Indigenous Peoples.
Acknowledging territory is a beginning and not an ending in terms of our work towards truth and reconciliation.
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As we engage online, let’s remember that the digital spaces that we occupy are often used as a tool of oppression towards Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, gender and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, newcomers, immigrants, refugees, migrants and others who experience intersecting forms of marginalization. Let’s do our best to create a space where we can all safely engage.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-o-show-nee) and Anishinaabe (Ah- nish-in-ah-bay) Peoples, many of whom continue to live and work in this region. This land is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum agreement, which calls for the sharing and protection of the land. The treaty signifies peace, cooperation, and mutual respect, reminding all those who live here of our responsibility to care for this land and all it’s people.
This gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge that our quality of life is directly connected to the resources, friendship, and stewardship of Indigenous peoples over centuries. The YWCA Niagara Region recognizes our place as settlers on this land, and we are committed to upholding the values of peace, friendship, and respect that this treaty calls for.
However, we also recognize the historical and ongoing harm caused by colonialism, including the ways in which YWCA’s and white feminism excluded and marginalized Indigenous women and gender-diverse people. The YW acknowledges that white feminism often fails to center Indigenous voices and experiences, contributing to systems of oppression and assimilation. We are also acutely aware of the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in our programs and the unique challenges they face due to systemic inequities.
In recognition of this, we are committed to listening, learning, including and supporting Indigenous-led movements, ensuring that our work in the community promotes inclusion, decolonization, and reconciliation.
OUR MISSION
To be the change agent for community transformation ending gender inequity and social injustice.
OUR VISION
An equitable society where women and families thrive.
What became apparent in conversations with different stakeholders is that the issues that we address in our daily work are ultimately rooted in inequity. To truly support the women and families we serve, we must make it a priority to address the underlying causes of issues such as poverty, homelessness and human trafficking. Based on this premise, we developed the new mission and vision and our new strategic plan.
2022-2023 BY THE NUMBERS
42 women, 3 children, 5 Youth and 1 gender-diverse individual took their first steps towards independent living in our ON-SITE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
Many families were finally able to find a place to call home in our OFFSITE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
20 women made important strides in their housing journey in our SUPPORTED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.
48 women, 55 men, 64 children & youth, and 1 gender diverse individual called our Family Shelter home.
360 women, 112 men, 149 children & youth, and 16 Gender diverse people found refuge in our emergency homeless shelters.
105 individuals accessed intervention and prevention services in our WOMEN'S ADDICTION RECOVERY MEDIATION (WARM) program.
183 women received sex-positive, judgment-free support in our SEX TRADE ON MY TERMS (STOMT) program.
363 individuals increased their knowledge, enhanced their skills, and built self-awareness in our Skills Development workshops.
20 unique individuals felt safe accessing around the clock support in our human trafficking survivor secure housing program.
3 returning individuals found comfort in a familiar environment. Returning individuals are a success within the program and shows we are a safe space for them.
102 volunteers supported our work by giving 316 hours of volunteering.
