Women, children empowered while living at YWCA of El Paso’s Transitional Living Center
The YWCA is gearing up for their biggest fundraiser of the year, the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event.
Money from that event goes towards one of their most impactful programs, which takes in women, provides them with housing, and teaches them self-sufficiency.
“The YWCA’s Sara McKnight Transitional Living Center has been in existence since 1993 and our primary and number one focus is families women and children, and sometimes single women,” said Sierra Ulibarri, director of homeless programs for the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region.
Ulibarri told ABC-7 the center is now at capacity with 52 clients currently being housed.
“We have 19 dormitory like rooms some have a community restroom, some have their own bathrooms they vary in size,” Ulibarri said. “We do have some larger families in some units some families in others.”
The center is also equipped with a full kitchen with a 12 burner stove. Each client is provided with their own refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.
“A lot of clients are coming dire situations where they’ve lost everything,” Ulibarri said. “Some of our clients come with only the clothes on their backs.”
A large percentage of the women living at the center are survivors of domestic, sexual, or other forms of violence.
“Our number one goal is self-sufficiency and permanent housing, so we have to create a housing stability plan or action plan of what the clients needs are in order to move on.”
To support these women transition into a better life, the YWCA also provides TLC residents with many services including intensive case management, counseling, financial empowerment services, job search assistance, and educational opportunities.
The funds raised from the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event helps the YWCA keep their mission of empowering women alive.
“It helps us pay utilities, it helps us pay costs, it helps us keep it going, ” Ulibarri said.
To donate to the YWCA click here, to volunteer click here, to learn about the Sara McKnight Transitional Living Center click here.
