Women's Support Shelter

I had a few months of experience coming out of a DV situation. I was guided and was so stressed out that I felt that the 'supportive' people were the only people I could lean on. I am also educated, however, I am white. Their legal department and housing department degraded me, made derogatory comments about me and my children. I saw changes coming from higher ups and when they get challenged by even the nicest staff member I can see they get reprimanded or told off. I think there are some good women their that get it, but I was even told that no judge would give me custody if I was in shelter- hello, shelter is what they offer as a first step! Then when I tried to approach the higher ups to let them know what was said I was dismissed and treated poorly. I will be writing a letter to the board and I will have to do the custody case myself. I feel horrible for other women who get hurt further in an already bad situation by those that claim to be there to help. It looks like it's there, but when it comes down to it, it is not. Sad and disappointed. more

I had the absolute most degrading experience in this place. I came from another state fleeing domestic violence and I had anxiety really bad. At some points, I could barely speak because I had been frieghten out of my wits. The staff was very cruel to me and seemed to have no experience with a woman who had been abused so badly that she became mentally removed. I was accused of impersonating someone else and was accused of using the shelter as a way of fleeing from the law. I was discriminated against becasue of my educational and employment background. For some reason, staff could not understand why an educated person with work experience could not find a better place to go other than a shelter; their conclusion, she is fabricating her story and she is not who she pretends to be. \r \r Within a few weeks of my stay, I was kicked out on the streets. I was devastated with their treatment towards me and I find it hard for them to treat anyone in the manner that I was treated. The staff there are unprofessional and the organization should be evaluated closley by its contributors; there is a lot of foul play going on. Further, the executive director was informed of everything I went through and she was non responsive and did not attempt to unhold any of the policies that governs the YWCA. What a shame this organization is designed to support women, but only those who fit in a very narrow box can access help from them. FUNDERS PLEASE BEAWARE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS BEEN TREATED THIS WAY. more