GUEST SPEAKER: Debra Mattson – Durham Region YWCA
Janice Coupland, our Director of Community Service, introduce Debra Mattson.
A History of the YWCA in Oshawa:
In 1944, Colonel and Mrs. R.S McLaughlin gifted the historic 'Adelaide House' to the YWCA. The gift included remodelling to make it suitable for housing working girls.
In 1945, YWCA Durham opens its doors to low-income women, offering opportunities for self development through education, supportive housing & recreational programming.
By 1950, There were 79 permanent and 156 temporary residents in Adelaide House. Dinner costs 75 cents per person!
In 1971, they Opened up a hostel for homeless women and children.
By 1995, The Oshawa YWCA Hostel - the only women's hostel in the region - provides outreach to over 1000 women & children.
In 2002, they Purchase of building to house Y's WISH Emergency Shelter for abused women and children. Y's WISH Shelter opened its doors in 2003 and has been a safe haven and support for thousands of women and children ever since.Y’s WISH stands for Women In Safe Housing. We will help you by offering a safe and secure temporary home in our 15 bed shelter. You and your children are welcome regardless of age, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We provide healthy meals and snacks, a comfortable room to sleep, clean washrooms, play room and family room - all in a secure setting.
We can connect you with community agencies including housing, social services, employment, legal aid and more. Find out more about our transitional and outreach support. We also offer short term crisis counselling for women and children in individual and group settings. We can connect you to information, referrals and advocacy to ensure a smooth transition back into your community. Visit our links page for a list of area resources. In 2018, the shelter looked after 104 women and 88 children and did 574 referrals.
Also in 2002, YWCA Durham received designation as an Ontario Early Years Centre.
In 2004, YWCA Durham hosts first annual Starry Nights fundraiser - the first of a longstanding tradition!
In 2008, Shortly after the hostel closes, 2nd Stage Housing opens in Adelaide House - Durham's only supportive housing program of its kind! The YWCA Durham provides the region's only second stage housing program for single women at risk. At our second stage program you'll find safe, supportive and affordable housing. This turn-key program also provides a peer network, professional counselling, advocacy and job and life skills development. Over a maximum 24 months stay, women will gain the skills, connections and confidence to achieve long term success and independence in Durham region. The Program fees are geared to income and include:
- Nutritious meals prepared daily
- Single and double bedrooms, fully furnished
- Shared bath, common rooms, kitchenette and dining rooms
- Fitness room
- Wifi and local calls
- Laundry facilities
- Accessible, secure building
- Access to Adelaide’s Attic, our second hand store
- Access to professional counselling, job skills and life skills opportunities
- Volunteer opportunities in the kitchen, store, garden and more
In 2008, Adelaide's Attic opens!. Our second hand shop at 33 McGrigor serves Oshawa women with low price clothing & household items. Adelaide’s Attic is a vintage clothing and household items store with proceeds supporting YWCA Durham. The store provides women in the community with clothing, accessories and linens at very low prices. Adelaide’s Attic offers clothing for the entire family as well as small house wares, linens, dishes and much more. Items start as low as $1. YWCA Durham receives new donations every week so it’s never the same store twice! The vision for Adelaide’s Attic was to provide women in the community with the opportunity to shop in a boutique setting for stylish and affordable clothing for themselves as well as their family. Adelaide’s Attic also provides volunteer opportunities for women to gain retail store experience while earning gift certificates for shopping.
In 2015, 55 McGrigor Apartments celebrates 25th Anniversary.
In 2018, their 24 hour crisis line handled 1,213 calls
Vision: An inclusive community where women, children, youth and families are safe, inspired and empowered to grow.
Mission: YWCA Durham is a trusted community leader that provides high quality programs, services and resources that respond to the needs of women, children, youth and families.
Values: YWCA Durham is a feminist organization that believes in, supports and advocates for:
Equity
We recognize that an investment in women, children, youth and families builds a stronger future for everyone.
Diversity
We honour and are committed to diversity and inclusion.
Self Determination
We respect and support the right for women and girls to make their own choices.
Accountability
We conduct ourselves with integrity to ensure a high level of accountability and transparency.A Part of Something Bigger: YWCA Durham is part of our country’s oldest and largest women’s multi-service organization, YWCA Canada, and exists in solidarity with the global YWCA movement, which serves 25 million women and girls throughout 125 countries while driving the international gender-based human rights agenda.
Violence Against Women (VAW): Throughout the years of providing services to women and children who have experienced violence, we continue to change with the needs of our clientele. Women and their children are requiring our services for longer periods of time. We continue to offer emergency shelter and services, transitional support and counselling.History: YWCA Durham has 70 years of history in helping women to achieve success against the odds. See our timeline for highlights of our journey.
YWCA Durham - A Turning Point For Women : We're deeply committed to meeting the needs of women and their children in Durham Region who experience violence and abuse. If you need help right away, access our services here.
Everyone needs a place to call home. : We offer 4 different types of housing from emergency shelter to long term rent-geared-income housing. Our housing services are unique in that they are paired with access to counselling, employment and life skills programs that prepare women for successful transition into the community.
The early years matter: The right support in the formative pre-school years sets kids up for success in kindergarten and beyond. We administer an EarlyON Centre and offer parent and child programming and recreational opportunities at our Family Program Centre. Over 2,800 looked after in 2018.
Our place can be your space: Our historic Adelaide House offers a unique meeting place for special events, business functions, and social gatherings.
Debra noted that money does come from the government, the United Way , and also from their tarry Night fundraiser.
Debra was thanked by Jackie Schagen
Meeting Adjourned
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