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Community Connection
The Professional Organization of Women is proud to announce our 2009 Community Partner, YWCA - Phyllis Wheatley Transitional Housing Program! POW members will support, through volunteer events and classes, a community service program with YWCA.
Stay tuned to learn details on how you can join us!!!
YWCA – Phyllis Wheatley Transitional Housing Program
History: YWCA Metro St. Louis was created as a social response to the large number of young women who migrated to St. Louis to experience the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and found themselves without the means to obtain affordable housing and employment. Consequently, the YWCA was formed to provide housing and job skills to support these women’s social and economic integration into their new surroundings. YWCA Metro St. Louis is an autonomous, accredited affiliate of the YWCA of The USA and also became a United Way members affiliate in 1923. Today, the YWCA continues to address issues facing low-income women in the St. Louis community such as child care, health care, education, social economics and self-sufficiency.Transitional Housing: In 1941, the YWCA purchased a facility at 2709 Locust in St. Louis’ midtown for the Phyllis Wheatley Branch. When the Phyllis Wheatley Branch Residence opened at 2709 Locust, most of the women who came were from out of town and needed a safe and supportive place to stay while finding their way around the community. In addition, the YWCA’s commitment to racial equality met a special need of black women who faced a more overtly segregated society. In 1986 a transitional housing model was adopted and in 1994 the program was relocated to its current location on the St. Louis University Campus at 3820 West pine.
Today, the YWCA continues to focus on these issues through services and outcomes in the areas of health, self-sufficiency, education and social services for children. In 1995, the YWCA received the first annual Governor’s Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing for a Not-for-Profit Organization for our Phyllis Wheatley Transitional Housing Program. In 2004 the YWCA reopened our historic Phyllis Wheatley Apartments for low-income individuals and families.
The YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Transitional Housing Program provides dormitory style housing and supportive services for up to 24 months to single women 18 years and older who are homeless. The facility is located on St. Louis University’s Campus; built in the 1980’s offers housing, space for training, counseling and meetings. It includes a computer lab, commercial –type kitchen for food service and twenty-four hour security provided by the YWCA. In addition, each woman receives on-site supportive services such as case management, counseling, support groups, life skills, job readiness and financial literacy sessions. The facility can house a maximum of thirty-five women.
Goals:
- Increase economic self-sufficiency
- Transitional into permanent housing within 24 months
- Individual Participant Service Planning
- Case Management
- On-site Financial Literacy Training
- Credit Repair and Debt Reduction
Housing needs addressed: The major needs addressed by our housing program are those of single women, 18 years or older who are homeless and who lack the personal and financial resources to support independent living. Most are under-trained and or underemployed, have inadequate support networks. Some have been in harmful relationships and are recovering from addictions to alcohol or drugs. Consumer debt is an increasing problem. We work to (1) empower women to develop personal and vocational skills through an integrated program of housing and supportive services to enable them to become competitively employed and economically self-sufficient; (2) facilitate access to comprehensive network of health, education and social service agencies in order to provide the broadest range of support sevices to assist in the development of support networks; and (3) facilitate the transition of housing residents from the program into independent living and to continue to offer support and assistance to sustain those improved circumstances.
Professional Organization of Women (POW) could have a positive impact on the lives of these individuals by serving as role models. P.O.W. can help better prepare themselves with utilizing the enrichment of professionals, social and community aspirations of African American women in entry and mid-level management positions.The Professional Organization of Women, Inc. (POW) members will be volunteering their time teaching the women to develop a program tailored to their needs that will focus on topics ranging from education, interview skills, networking/building strategic relationships, resume writing workshop, and women's health. POW members will also be able to visit YWCA's Program Director. Organizing and participating with prior approval of the Program Director, in periodic social gatherings and outing or Community Services Projects. Great things happen when POW gives back to the community and partners with emPOWering organizations like YWCA - Phyllis Wheatley Transitional Housing Program. ****Please Note Important Membership Requirement****
POW members are to complete hours of community service annually.
These hours can be earned by attending or facilitating a class or
by participating in occasional Saturday activities.
****2009 Community Service Schedule**** YWCA Metro St. Louis, 3820 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108Email: info@ywcastlouis.org, Ph: 314-531-1115, Fx: 314-531-5008