The renovations will provide a more comforting space for guests, and further the organization’s work of providing safe housing for women and children.

The YWCA has worked to house women and children in need through the transitional housing program for nearly 30 years, and has offered housing to women in the building for over 100 years since the initial inception, according to Director of Programs Kristi Ternullo. The transitional housing program was initially introduced due to the growing need for women to receive housing assistance nearly three decades ago, a need that has not ceased, said Ternullo.

Around April, the YWCA began to notice the need for renovations to these housing units that had been pushed off for multiple decades, noted Ternullo. Ternullo stated that, at that time, only around four guests were staying at the location. This allowed for the YWCA to find new housing for these guests through the Department of Social Service’s Public Assistance Shelter Supplement system, said Ternullo. With those individuals having secured apartments through DSS subsidies, the YWCA was able to begin securing funding to start the long-needed renovations.

Renovations began to the housing spaces on July 1. Ternullo stated that the areas have been completely repainted, new floors have been put down, kitchen modernizations have been performed, and major overhauls to the bathrooms have been done. Renovations utilized trauma-informed colors to ensure a safe and comfortable feeling for young children, according to Ternullo. It is essential to take young children into account as Ternullo noted that the housing program has often provided services to mothers with young children.

A children’s play area in the YWCA housing space. Photo courtesy of Jamestown YWCA.

Despite only opening to the first guest on Thursday Oct. 9, the housing will be at full occupancy from seven women and their children. Ternullo attributed refilling spaces so quickly to the organization continuing to take referrals during the time that they were not housing individuals. This allowed the spaces to be filled as soon as renovations were completed.

Many individuals come into contact with the services of the YWCA through referrals or from reaching out themselves when in need, according to Ternullo. Ternullo noted that the organization helps to house women in a range of situations that deem those women homeless or put them at risk of becoming homeless.

“They could be couch surfing, they could be coming here for college and, you know, an international student who’s not able to secure housing. We’ve had individuals who are experiencing unhealthy relationships, individuals experiencing financial instability. So there’s a lot of different reasons,” according to Ternullo.

While not necessarily being an emergency housing that can provide instant assistance, the organization provides an essential service for many women in the area.

When the organization does not have sufficient space to house more people, they also provide housing navigation through the Western New York Integrated Collaborative Care Program. This allows the YWCA to assist Medicaid members in finding an apartment, and providing a security deposit plus up to six months rent as long as that person can financially sustain the housing going forward, said Ternullo.

A renovated area that includes a table and chairs in a shared space. Photo courtesy of Jamestown YWCA.

“Our aim is to provide a program that is not top down, that is bottom up. That individuals are able to come here and have active involvement in what their plan is, and we are here to support them in attaining those goals for a life of stability,” stated Ternullo.

A shared living space area within the Young Women’s Christian Association’s transitional housing space. Photo courtesy of Jamestown YWCA.