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ywca elm centre : the need

No Place Like Elm
green, affordable, supportive

(coming in 2011)

addressing a crisis

There is a pressing housing crisis in Toronto that is leaving many women and their families homeless and vulnerable.

There are more than 70,000 Toronto families on the wait list for a home they can afford, and more than half of those families are women-led.

According to Statistics Canada, women account for 56% of Canadians with low incomes. One in five families with children is led by a single woman, and 42% of these families experience housing affordability problems. For some women, this challenge is compounded by mental illness and addiction.

Many women living in poverty, particularly those with children, are more likely to be ‘invisibly homeless’ – staying with friends or tolerating violence and other abuses to retain a roof over their heads.

The YWCA Elm Centre, as a women-only community, will provide a greater opportunity for program focus and the building of a safe and supportive environment. A high percentage of women prefer women-only housing. For older women, women who have experienced various forms of violence, and women from particular religious or cultural groups, the preference for women-only housing increases.

For more information on how to support YWCA Elm Centre, please contact:
elmcentre [at] ywcatoronto [dot] org
416.961.8101 ext. 361

also see:

• the solution
• a word about our partners
• fundraising success to date
• location
• our donors
• named gift opportunities

YWCA Elm Centre brochure
YWCA Elm Centre operational sustainability
YWCA Elm Centre environmental sustainability
YWCA Elm Centre architectural renderings
YWCA Elm Centre naming opportunities

in the news :

october-november 2009 | Building Strategies | YWCA Elm Centre project profile
september 2009 | Globe & Mail | Elm Co-Chair Announcement
september 2009 | Globe & Mail | Elm Campaign Announcement
january 2009 | Toronto Star | Housing project gets $5M
january 2009 | National Post | YWCA hopes $5M donation will spur city's generosity
january 2009 | Sing Tao | article
january 2009 | Globe & Mail | YWCA to build housing for women, children
january 2009 | Toronto Sun Media | Women and children first
january 2009 | Daily Exchange | Tough times make historic new project a welcome relief
january 2009 | PopGoesTheNews | Historic donation enables Toronto housing project to go forward
july 2006 | Toronto Star | Housing project gets nod
july 2006 | Globe & Mail | City approves women's housing
july 2006 | Toronto Star | Housing project expected to raise tempers

media advisory:
january 2009 | Tough times make historic new project a welcome relief

more

breakthrough
choices for living
YWCA beatrice house
YWCA arise
YWCA women's shelter
1st stop woodlawn
pape avenue apartments
humewood drive housing
housing for researchers
researchers housing portfolio
new developments - bergamot
ywca elm centre

related

here to help
teen mothers program
women’s housing advocacy group
family support centre
childcare