Our Member Agency

Member Since: 1941

2009-2010 United Way Funding: 213,051

Agency Description: Supports the right of all women and their families to live free from violence, poverty, and oppression. Anti-violence work includes: Crossroads Shelter for abused women and their children; 24 hour crisis line counselling; support groups for abused women; annual community-wide Week Without Violence campaign; counselling outreach programs for abused rural women in Peterborough and Haliburton counties through Women’s Safety Network and YWCA Women’s Centre in Minden. HERS is a rural model safe space for women and children fleeing abuse in the Haliburton County area. Transitional support counselling available in Peterborough or Haliburton Counties for women after leaving a violent relationship. Anti-poverty work includes support of community gardens and JustFood boxes. Owns and maintains a 40 unit rent-geared-to-income townhouse community for women and children called Centennial Crescent. Operates Y’s Buys, a second-hand clothing store. Seeks to increase diversity and accessibility with active anti-oppression training. Introduced Compass Training Centre, a social enterprise designed to deliver customized learning workshops about building inclusive programs and services and supporting positive workplace culture. GirlSpace programs promote self esteem and healthy relationships for young girls. Envisioning New Meanings of Difference and Disability is a province wide program to promote inclusion training by using arts-based practices produced by women with disabilities and differences. Women’s Employment Learning and Livelihoods (WELL) program is a new skills training and employment program for women offered by the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton’s Compass Training. All locations are wheelchair accessible and have TTYs (telephones for the deaf).

United Way Funded Programs: Program funding to support Crossroads Shelter, JustFood and Counselling Programs.

Number Who Benefit Annually: 4,500 women and children

Number of Volunteers Annually: 170

Number of Staff: 75