Programs & Services

Discover Our Programs & Services

YWCA Housing Services
We provide housing solutions by offering safe shelter, permanent affordable housing and transitional living for women and non-binary individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, fleeing violent situations, or in need of temporary housing.
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Gender Based Violence Support Services
Everyone deserves to feel safe. We work to end violence against women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQIA+ people through our advocacy and offer life-changing and life-saving supports to survivors
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Skills Development & Training
With the support of our stakeholders and community, we’re breaking down barriers to achieve women’s economic equality.
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Children's Services
As the second-largest provider of child care in the country, child care is a cornerstone of advocacy for YWCAs across Canada.
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Youth Programs
Our youth programs centers amplifies the voices of young women, non-binary, and gender-fluid youth in Hamilton. We're empowering young individuals to use their voice - to take action - and to get moving and to reach their fullest potential.
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Developmental Services
We believe that all persons should live in a state of dignity and share in all elements of living in their community with support and encouragement.
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Health & Wellness
We’re focused on promoting the physical and emotional well-being of all Canadians.
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Immigration & Settlement
YWCA Hamilton’s JOIN Program is a new immigration and settlement program designed specifically for newcomer women, youth and 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
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Our Blog

All
2SLGBTQIA+
Children
Community
Developmental Services
Economic Empowerment
Employment & Skills Development
Encore
Gender-Based Violence
Health and Wellness
Health Care
Homelessness
Housing and Shelter
Immigration & Settlement Services
Impact Report
Putman Family YWCA
RISE Collective
Safer Use Space
Speqtrum
volunteer
Women in Trades
Women's Housing
Youth
Youth Programs

YWCA Hamilton is ready to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with action, passion, and support for survivors!

YWCA Hamilton is ready to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with action, passion, and support for survivors!

1 October 2024

YOU Power YWCA Hamilton – Read Our Impact Report 2023-24!

YOU Power YWCA Hamilton – Read Our Impact Report 2023-24!

26 September 2024

This World Refugee Day – We Commend the Stories of Resilience, Determination, and the Power of Community Support

This World Refugee Day – We Commend the Stories of Resilience, Determination, and the Power of Community Support

20 June 2024

Celebrating Two Spirit, LGBTQIA+ communities during pride month: How visibility, representation & joy make queer and feminist movements stronger.

Celebrating Two Spirit, LGBTQIA+ communities during pride month: How visibility, representation & joy make queer and feminist movements stronger.

31 May 2024

self-portrait of Monique Campbell; woman pushing yellow grocery cart with large mirror in basket with a woman holding a camera in the reflection

YWCA Hamilton’s PowerUP Ready program powers local business – Moments By Monique

12 December 2023

Kia Nurse, she/her, Keynote Speaker Kia Nurse, she/her, Keynote Speaker 2023 Rise & Shine Young Trailblazers Breakfast at LiUNA Station on November 16, 2023

YWCA Hamilton, in partnership with 110th Grey Cup Festival, celebrates youth at RISE & Shine Young Trailblazers Breakfast!

24 November 2023

Participants, walkers and runners after completing their Road2Hope marathon in support of YWCA ENCOREplus and breast cancer survivors.

The Road to Hope is Never Travelled Alone – Thank you for Supporting YWCA ENCOREplus!

16 November 2023

A group of runners and walkers raising money for YWCA Encore and supporting survivors of breast cancer at the Road2Hope marathon

Road to Hope: The Road is Never Travelled Alone

19 October 2023

YWCA Hamilton’s PowerUp Program empowers mother-daughter duo to run social enterprise that removes barriers of employment for disabled youth

YWCA Hamilton’s PowerUp Program empowers mother-daughter duo to run social enterprise that removes barriers of employment for disabled youth

20 July 2023

YWCA Hamilton’s PowerUp Program gives local entrepreneur a boost

27 June 2023

Svitlana Bondarenko, the Ukrainian settlement counsellor at YWCA Hamilton and a refugee herself

June 20 is World Refugee Day

20 June 2023

Michaela Walker (far left) poses with participants of our Developmental Services program. Michaela is completing her third workplace with YWCA Hamilton. She is a recent graduate of the Therapeutic Recreation program at Mohawk College.

Developmental Services Clients Gain Confidence with the “Shoot Your Shot” Basketball Program

2 June 2023

hand paints with a brush

Connection Through Art – Memoir Writing Newcomer Storytelling Workshop

10 May 2023

Etri and Nam are co-chairs of the Mac Med volunteering group

Med student volunteers help connect the community to Carole Anne’s Place

21 April 2023

Safer Use Space at YWCA Hamilton

Celebrating One Year of Operations at the Safer Drug Use Space – YWCA Hamilton

21 April 2023

Quilt - holiday campaign 2022

YWCA Hamilton’s 2022 Holiday Campaign raises over $41,000 – and wraps our residents with care

17 January 2023

the AIDS network booth

Women’s Health Days at YWCA Hamilton help provide healthcare to those who need it most

13 January 2023

Elaine (left) and Marie (right) at YWCA Hamilton booth at Holiday Market

YWCA Hamilton celebrates the season at our Holiday Market!

20 December 2022

Sarah (left) and Rachelle (right) on race day.

YWCA Staff run half-marathon in support of programming for breast cancer survivors

17 November 2022

Milli and Denise at store web

YWCA Hamilton is proud to announce the Milli Gould Entrepreneurial Centre!

10 November 2022

Move more for encore 2022 participants exercising

YWCA Hamilton wraps up a month of movement for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

31 October 2022

Anabelle Ragsag

YWCA Hamilton’s Uplift program helps break barriers for women, and for data science

14 October 2022

Brenda in front of Putman Family YWCA

Brenda’s Story

12 October 2022

Intersect Act event

YWCA Hamilton’s new Intersect/ACT program will help fight hate and racism in our community

20 September 2022

Participant displaying colouring book

YWCA Hamilton’s Safer Use Drug Space offers safety, support, colouring, and connection

1 September 2022

Harvest and other participants planting in the community garden

Back to School Bonanza at the Putman Family YWCA helps families fight food insecurity and prepare for September

25 August 2022

YWCA Hamilton partners with the Hamilton Jewish Federation to help fight food insecurity

YWCA Hamilton partners with the Hamilton Jewish Federation to help fight food insecurity

22 July 2022

Join representatives at Ukrainian newcomer booth

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees will soon be arriving in Canada – and YWCA Hamilton is here to help

18 July 2022

Indigenous Art - Indigenous History Month

Indigenous History Celebration at Putman Family YWCA brings new neighbours together

28 June 2022

Safer Use Space

YWCA Hamilton’s New Safer Use Drug Space offers a haven for women who use substances

16 June 2022

Pride and Remembrance Run

Show your pride and help support Hamilton’s Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth!

14 June 2022

Ethnic Community Event-Pakistan Day

YWCA Hamilton Program Spotlight: Join touches the lives of immigrants, refugees, and newcomers

24 May 2022

A woman standing in front of Putman Family YWCA

On Mother’s Day, the Putman Family YWCA offers new hope to a Mom and her daughters

6 May 2022

Brittany Gentilhomme

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Brittany Gentilhomme

23 March 2022

Aimee Robinson Marine

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Aimee Robinson

17 March 2022

Kaitlyn Pressley

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Kaitlyn Pressley

23 February 2022

wo young mothers on sofa at home

Continuing Good Beginnings – How YWCA Continues to Support New Mothers During the Pandemic

21 February 2022

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Melody Lavarez

16 February 2022

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Emily Pyke

10 February 2022

Rise Collective Poster - Activate your leadership, Amplify your voice

RISE and Shine: An Update on YWCA Hamilton’s RISE Collective

7 February 2022

Skilled Trades Casey Kramer

Women in Skilled Trades Profile – Casey Kramer

2 February 2022

Mobile Cancer Screening Clinic outside of MacNab

Women’s Health Days at YWCA Hamilton provide support to women experiencing homelessness

21 December 2021

Marilyn Hill sitting on her couch

Marilyn Hill: YWCA Hamilton’s Storyteller

9 December 2021

Kim shear standing in front of trees

Meet Kim: Providing a lifeline for women and children fleeing abuse at YWCA Hamilton’s Phoenix Place

23 November 2021

Developmental Services - Jessica Crowe sitting on a bench

Budding Leader: Jessica Crowe thrives in YWCA Hamilton’s Developmental Services Imagine Day Program

9 November 2021

Rachelle trekking BC mountains

Local realtor tackles six-day trek through the BC mountains in support of YWCA Hamilton

22 July 2021

woman cooking at the kitchen

Creating community for Two Spirit/ LGBTQIA+ newcomers through food

27 May 2021

AWAR 2019 lunch time

First ever virtual Ability Walk and Roll celebrates people with disabilities

20 May 2021

Family Access Blog post

YWCA Hamilton’s Family Access Centre helps keeps families connected

14 May 2021

Speqtrum Check-In program helps support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth during the pandemic

Speqtrum Check-In program helps support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth during the pandemic

6 May 2021

plants planted into the zonta garden

It’s Earth Day today!

20 April 2021

YWCA Hamilton celebrates Therapeutic Recreation Staff

1 April 2021

A transfeminine non-binary person and transmasculine gender-nonconforming person looking at a phone and laughing

YWCA Hamilton’s new Join program offers wraparound services for newcomers, youth, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community

14 January 2021

Senior woman eating a meal

Dolores’ story: How YWCA Hamilton’s programs help seniors stay connected

4 December 2020

High school students in the new normal studying on stairway

How YWCA Hamilton’s STEP program changes lives

19 November 2020

Mimma’s story: YWCA Hamilton’s Encore Program “saved my life”

Mimma’s story: YWCA Hamilton’s Encore Program “saved my life”

5 November 2020

Maureen’s story: how YWCA Hamilton’s virtual Encore Program helped a breast cancer warrior, 18 years after treatment

29 October 2020

Dea’s story: how positive thinking and YWCA Hamilton’s Encore program offered a road map to life after breast cancer

22 October 2020

Amanda’s story: How YWCA Hamilton’s Encore program helped a 29-year-old breast cancer warrior

1 October 2020

Move More Encore banner

YWCA Hamilton’s Encore program is a lifeline for breast cancer survivors

10 September 2020

Rise collective poster - Activate your leadership, amplify your voice

YWCA Hamilton’s new RISE Collective helps amplify youth voices in the community

3 September 2020

student talking with group of students

YWCA Hamilton’s STEP Program helps young people smash barriers to employment

25 August 2020

Learn more about the skilled trades with YWCA Hamilton’s Pre-Apprenticeship programs

4 August 2020

Cathy (left) and Lindsey (right) pose for a photo in their apartment. They are getting their lives back together after spending an entire winter sleeping at Carole Anne's Place overflow centre.

Carole Anne’s Place to reopen in December

15 November 2019

Josie Rudderham

Entrepreneur Josie Rudderham has her cake and eats it too

17 July 2019

Living her best life at YWCA Hamilton South Place

Living her best life at YWCA Hamilton South Place

7 February 2019

Lucia Martinez poses for a photo in the At The Table Cafe

Lucia’s long road home

4 December 2018

Faiza Elbarghathi is smiling to the camera in front of YWCA Hamilton swimming pool

Faiza fulfills her dreams at YWCA Hamilton pool

27 November 2018

How YWCA Encore Changes Lives

19 November 2018