YWCA Spokane
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Mission Statement
YWCA Spokane is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We live out our mission by standing up for social justice, helping families, and strengthening communities. It is our vision to be the leader in providing inclusive, trauma-informed services for healing and personal growth through advocacy, education, empowerment and meaningful access. YWCA Spokane believes in a community where all women and children have a safe place to live. A place where women have the opportunity to earn a livable wage and families can live free from violence, in peace, and with dignity.
About This Cause
Since 1903, YWCA Spokane has been helping women, children, and families overcome social, economic, and personal barriers in order to accomplish their goals and achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives. Today, areas of focus include supporting victims of intimate partner domestic violence, promoting early childhood education, and fostering the economic advancement of women. In addition to providing free, confidential, and trauma-informed programs and services to approximately 17,000 in and around Spokane, YWCA Spokane is focused on confronting racial and social justice issues impacting our clients and our community. Every day, we work to reduce poverty and homelessness, provide economic opportunity, and assist those with limited incomes who are impacted by gender-based inequities and violence. At YWCA Spokane, our work is vital to domestic violence survivors and their families. In Spokane county, we have the highest rates of domestic violence (DV) in the state and many incidents go unreported. DV continues to be the number one call to 911 and domestic violence related cases make up 25% of all criminal cases. Domestic violence is rooted in power and control with one partner repeatedly using tactics to gain or maintain leverage over the other partner. It's a common myth that intimate partner domestic violence only happens to "certain women;" however, anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. We are committed to serving all people regardless of gender, citizenship status, ethnic background, ability, socioeconomic status, religion, and age. Another myth is that abuse is limited to physical violence. This isn't true. Domestic violence can manifest in many ways. While it can include physical violence, it can also include emotional abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse & coercion, stalking and digital abuse. Recognizing forms of abuse and being able to name warning signs can help a survivor when you are showing concern for their situation. This is known as See It, Name It, Check It! This could look like saying, "I've noticed [insert specific warning sign] and I wondered if [insert concern or question]" It's important to listen and believe survivors and remind them that the abuse is not their fault. At YWCA Spokane, our services can be categorized under three umbrellas: Domestic Violence Service Center, Women's Opportunity Center (WOC), and Child & Youth Services. This holistic approach helps us promote healing and end cycles of trauma & abuse. We use the Empowerment Model throughout our work to empower survivors to make decisions and regain control over their lives. Our Domestic Violence Support Services include DV support advocates, mental health therapists, legal advocates, civil legal team, and housing services. All of our advocates and therapists are here to answer questions, help survivors navigate complex systems, provide education, and connect survivors to other meaningful resources. DV Support Advocates focus on safety planning and crisis support. Our Safe Shelter provides temporary housing for women and families fleeing domestic violence. It is also pet friendly to decrease barriers for survivors. In DV households, pets are often abused as a way to leverage power and control by the perpetrator. Our shelter has welcomed dogs, cats, snakes, rats, and I heard we even once boarded a survivor's horse. Of course, the ultimate goal of housing is to get survivors and their families into long-term, stable housing. Our Housing Advocates are here to help survivors navigate their housing crisis. The Women's Opportunity Center helps survivors gain new skills and tools needed for success in life, including job and school readiness and financial education. One of the ways we serve survivors is through Our Sister’s Closet, Spokane’s only free clothing boutique for women. Through one-on-one appointments and care packages we provide clothing and personal hygiene items to women at no cost. Lastly, our services for children and youths include advocacy, drop-in childcare, and ECEAP. In Spokane County, over 2,000 children are victims or witness domestic violence each year. Our trauma-informed youth advocacy services help disrupt cycles of poverty and violence for years to come. Thanks to our drop-in childcare known as Safe Haven, survivors can access services while their kiddos are being cared for on-site. The Early Childhood Education Assistance Program or ECEAP provides kindergarten readiness education, health and nutrition services, family support, advocacy training, and parent education. ECEAP serves eligible children and families based on the federal poverty level to ensure the success of all kiddos in elementary school and beyond. For the latest information on our current services, please visit ywcaspokane.org. If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about intimate partner domestic violence, call our 24-hour helpline at 509-326-2255.