YWCA Central Indiana

The YWCA offers an emergency shelter for women and children that includes wraparound services, as well as education in financial literacy, housing, and professional development; the C.O.T.S. Stay Program (complimentary, overnight, temporary, shelter stay); Second Stage long-term housing; facility rental space; and a resale shop. The C.O.T.S program provides a complimentary, overnight, temporary shelter stay. It is open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every day. Women and their children are provided a safe place to stay for up to three nights and can then, if needed and eligible, transition into the YWCA’s emergency shelter. While using the C.O.T.S. program, clients are provided personal hygiene items, non-perishable food, clean clothing and access to a shower. The organization is also active in many local, regional, state and national coalitions, advocating for policies, legislation and services that positively impact women and their families and pushing for progress. The YWCA actively engages with community partners to bring about change in the areas of economic, racial and gender oppression.
Residential Programs:
YWCA Emergency Shelter for women and children. A 45-day shelter stay program with wrap around services. Assistance with housing admissions at YWCA Central Indiana takes place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are in crisis or in need of housing support during other hours, call Indiana 211 Partnerships, a free and confidential service that helps Hoosiers across Indiana find the local resources they need. Dial 2-1-1 to connect with a navigator. The YWCA each month offers a variety of programming to help its emergency shelter residents in such areas as financial literacy, housing, tobacco awareness/cessation, diabetes education, and professional development, including resume building and interview skills.
Second Stage Housing: Long-term housing for eligible women and women with children who need additional assistance.

Racial Justice and Civil Rights:

1) YWCA works towards increasing the equal protections, opportunities and human rights of women and children; despite color.

2) YWCA participates and facilitates racial justice programs and services that increase awareness, and transforms inequities in areas such as employment, housing, and voting.

3) YWCA is actively involved in the annual Stand against Racism campaign. Stand against Racism, builds community among those who work for racial justice, raises awareness about racism, and encourages community members to take action for change.

Empowerment and Economic Advancement: YWCA has an ongoing mandate to provide leadership development opportunities to women and girls.

1) 76 percent of women and children served by YWCA have incomes below the federal poverty level or less, the equivalent of about $23,850 a year for a family of four.

2) We work to address the unique needs of those living in poverty and strive for outcomes that increase emotional and economic self-sufficiency.

4) We provide women with economic empowerment programs, housing, health care, and career education.

Health and Safety:

1) YWCA seeks to improve the lives of women and girls by providing high-quality health and wellness programs that are too-often not available to disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

2) YWCA continues to advocate for increased access to healthcare and supports public policies such as Affordable Care Act expansion that would greatly benefit the women, girls, and families we serve every day.