Young Women's Christian Association of St Paul

Housing & supportive services helped families and individuals overcome homelessness through affordable housing and supportive services to empower families to stabilize their lives, build new skills, decrease their utilization of emergency services, and keep families united and safe. While each program has specific eligibility criteria & requirements, all programs are united in philosophy, core services & service delivery methods that equip & empower participants to achieve foundational stability (i.e., stable housing), improve their economic resources & increase their self-sufficiency. They link affordable housing to customized support services; use the whole family approach; operate collaboratively; are case management-driven & participant centered; employ outcome-based evaluation; research-based tools, strategies, and best practices. YWCA's transitional housing program (THP), established in 1984, creates a path out of homelessness for single parent families with moderate to high barriers to housing stability. A family centered program, THP provides life changing case management, advocacy, training & support that helps parents achieve stable housing and supports the needs of their children through direct service and connection to community resources. Families spend up to 36 months stabilizing their lives & building skills while living in a YWCA owned/operated transitional housing site. Participants that complete a year are eligible for a Section 8 Rental Voucher which helps them maintain affordable housing in the community & reduces the chance of repeat homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) serves one & two parent families identified as having the highest and most complex barriers to housing stability, including chronic or long-term homelessness, a diagnosed physical/mental disability &/or chronic illness such as HIV/AIDS. Families work to achieve stable housing & independent living while receiving support through case management, coaching & connection to community resources. Families reside in YWCA owned/operated housing or housing in the community. Families are eligible to access a Section 8 Voucher after a year in the program. They participate if they choose, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements. PSH has served the community since 1995.

The health & fitness center (HFC) is a community health hub that provides individual and group-based activities that support good health. A welcoming and inclusive setting empowers people of all ages to live an active lifestyle, prevent, and manage chronic medical conditions, reduce stress, and grow strong in body and mind. Outreach and initiatives help keep health and wellness services accessible and welcoming to all genders, ages, and abilities. Service and facility offerings include group and specialty classes, pool, hot tub, free weights, cardio equipment, and on-site personal trainers work one-on-one with members to meet their fitness goals.The HFC helped members meet their health and fitness goals by providing classes, personal training and coaching services, swimming instruction, aquatic exercise, lap swimming, competitive swimming, open swimming, and pool rental. Supported the health of participants in YWCA's social service programs through special programs (e.g., swimming lessons for housing program families).