Case Study
YWCA of Columbus Family Center and Women’s Residential Program
The YWCA of Columbus is putting the finishing touches on a new, $6.5 million Family Center on the east side of Columbus that will provide shelter and supportive services for up to 50 homeless families in Columbus every night. At the same time, the YWCA is expanding facility space and supportive services for 100 women who reside at the downtown Women’s Residential Program.
Public Service Consulting worked with the YWCA to help raise funds and build support for both projects. PSC helped develop the fundraising strategy and wrote grants for capital investment to build the Family Center. We also helped organize and facilitate the Neighborhood Advisory Council to build support for the project and work through community issues. PSC developed a staff training plan and coordinated training for more than 50 staff members prior to the facility opening in October of 2005.
At the downtown Women’s Residential Program, PSC worked with YWCA administrators to research and develop a successful three-year funding proposal that greatly expands supportive services and facilities for women in the program. Prior to the expansion, staff offices and program locations were spread out over seven floors, with staff available mostly on weekdays during office hours. Now services are consolidated on one floor with a friendly, convenient “drop-in” center approach for residents. Supportive service staff are available around-the-clock to help residents achieve their goals, and to improve building safety and security. PSC continues to work with the Resident Council to refine the new program design, and coordinates meetings of the peer recovery program in partnership with the Commons at Grant and YMCA supportive housing programs.
