International Women's Day
Happy International Women’s Day!
In a year that has been especially turbulent, it is more important than ever that we take a second and acknowledge today as one of significant reflection. The International Women's Day 2018 campaign theme is #PressforProgress. Press for Progress is a push for global attention towards achieving the ultimate goal of gender equality.
No issue is an island, and crucial to collective impact is the acknowledgement that achieving real impact means driving real action. Collective action and shared responsibility for furthering gender equality are what make International Women's Day successful. Sheryl Sandberg, the author of the bestselling Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, once said, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Your Way Home is proud to spotlight our entirely female 24/7 street outreach team. In October Your Way Home launched its partnership with Access Services. Through this partnership we are now able to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, prioritizing housing and benefits for vulnerable families, youth and single adults experiencing homelessness. Services include: round the clock responsivity for physical resources, screening and assessment, housing counseling, and connection to housing resources.
Your Way Home’s priority is to serve individuals who are living outdoors, in their cars, in tents, or in other places not meant for human habitation. The complex needs, configurations, and situations of families and individuals who are experiencing street homelessness is assessed every day by the Your Way Home’s trauma-informed, street outreach team. Following the core principals of trauma-informed care is something that has made our street outreach team especially successful in their work. They have succeeded in creating a trustworthy environment while maintaining appropriate boundaries and empowering clients.
Your Way Home has made it a priority that no pregnant women or child under 5 should ever be without shelter, due to the serious health consequences associated with the experience. In 2017 alone Your Way Home served 646 women which is 52% of the population served by the program. It is important to acknowledge the unique challenges facing homeless women including: access to proper prenatal care, menstruation products, and increased risks of domestic violence, just to name a few.
“International Women's Day is not country, group or organization specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. So together, let's all be tenacious in accelerating gender parity. Collectively, let's all Press for Progress.”https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme
We need to applaud the strong women, like our street outreach team who are doing amazing, life-changing work. Their job is not easy, they don’t always witness a happy ending, but they continue to get up every day and make a difference. Thank you ladies, for your strength, resilience and tenacity. You are amazing! #PressForProgress