Since its founding in 1907 by prominent Bellingham clubwoman, Frances Larrabee, YWCA Bellingham has gradually evolved into one of the most impactful nonprofit organizations in the North Sound. Dedicated to its mission to ending racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, and freedom for all, the YWCA is always looking for new ways to uplift women in need— especially one of Bellingham’s most vulnerable populations: women experiencing homelessness.
Photo courtesy YWCA Bellingham
“Our goal is to help women not only find, but thrive in safe, permanent housing,” explains YWCA Bellingham CFO, Alle Schene. “Through providing safe shelter, intensive case management, and on-site coordination of medical and behavioral health services, the women we serve experience a quality of life and success that is made possible through our housing programs.” Over the years, YWCA Bellingham has evolved its programming to meet the changing challenges and needs of women within our community. During the ‘60s, the YWCA offered recreational classes like dance, guitar, and swimming as well as educational empowerment courses like “Powder Puff Mechanics,” along with a more limited range of housing services than they offer now.
Today, the YWCA recognizes that challenges like homelessness, poverty, racism, inequality, and women’s rights are complex and interconnected issues, requiring a holistic approach that acknowledges and addresses this intersectionality. Each year YWCA Bellingham joins with YWCA USA to present its annual Racial Justice Challenge, which encourages participants to reflect on and discover the real-world impacts of racial injustice within their own communities. Today, one of the YWCA’s biggest challenges is to address the growing issue of housing insecurity amongst women, who are especially vulnerable. To meet this rising need, the organization has added two new housing programs over the past few years, increasing its offerings to include emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and a senior women’s shelter.
Photo courtesy YWCA Bellingham
“We pride ourselves in identifying community needs and doing our best to address them, meaning that our programs can change and adapt over time to maximize our impact in the community,” says Schene.
In addition to housing support, YWCA also provides women with economic empowerment through their partnership with Y’s Buys Women’s Thrift Boutique in downtown Bellingham. Through the program, clothing vouchers provide women in need with access to clothing and fully styled outfits for job interviews or work. Y’s Buys also offers experiential benefits like formal job training programs to help women gain experience in the retail industry.
Members of the community can support the YWCA’s mission with financial donations, by donating supplies for the housing programs and residents, or by volunteering their time at Y’s Buys Thrift Boutique. Shene says joining their board of directors or spreading their cause through word of mouth is another crucial way to support their mission. 1026 N. Forest St., Bellingham, 360.734.4820, www.ywcabellingham.org
