Budget Cuts Threaten Funding  |  Donate Now

While many of us are feeling the pinch, our clients are forced to make tough decisions just to survive.  As the economy falters and instability in the workplace grows, community need for YWCA services also grows.

With multiple funding sources, the YWCA is poised to maintain programs for the short term; however, major budget cuts now could result in permanent, long-term funding problems and the potential closure of programs.

WHAT WE SEE NOW

Marked increase in number of homeless single women

• 120 new clients per month at Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women day program
• Winter night shelter opened early – about 50% are new clients

Sharp rise in hunger, food insecurity

• Requests for emergency food bags on the Eastside are up 71% over last year
• Food bank visits are up 29% over last year on the Eastside and 20-40 new families seen daily in South King

More trouble paying utility bills

• Calls to 2-1-1 for utility assistance are up 22% over this time last year
• In less than one day, requests for energy assistance in South King County depleted the amount allocated for the month of October

Striking increase in households struggling to pay rent

• Calls requesting housing assistance are up 70% on the Eastside
• 2-1-1 requests have doubled

More people looking for work

• The number of job seekers at WorkSource Downtown grew 19% over same period last year
• Hours reductions reported in retail, construction sectors
• Job fairs, hiring events cancelled due to lack of openings
• Layoffs – at least 8 Workforce Development Council Rapid Response projects in the works this month related to layoffs affecting 1,000+ workers

LOOKING AHEAD

Trouble paying for rent, utilities and food typically precedes housing instability. We expect to see:

• More families doubling-up, couch surfing
• Increased family homelessness
• Children’s education disrupted, impaired when families move, become homeless

Unemployment, hours reductions often result in loss of health insurance.

• Possible health degrade and people cutting back on medications for chronic conditions and turning to clinics, emergency rooms for care

Economic pressures heighten stressful situations. We expect to see increased need for mental health counseling and domestic violence advocacy.

Older workers returning to or remaining in the workforce due to the financial market crisis. We expect to see increased demands for training since many will lack up-to-date skills for today’s job market.

Economic downturns tend to reveal a premium placed on job skills and the mismatch between the skills of job-seekers and the needs of employers. We expect to see a labor surplus at the less-skilled end of the skills continuum and a labor shortage at the other end where technical jobs have greater skill requirements.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For more than 100 years, the YWCA has been in the business of helping women and families in our community. We’ve faced hard times before and likely will again. But we need your help now. 

Please make a year-end gift to the YWCA and help ensure that critical services for women and families will remain a priority in the coming months.   

 Donate Now