The YWCA of Western New York, Inc

Our History

Since 1870, YWCA WNY has responded to the needs of the community by providing high quality programs and services that promote racial justice and advance women’s empowerment. This commitment continues today through a continuum of comprehensive supports and services, focused specifically on individuals and families living with the inter-related issues associated with lack of equity access.

The YWCA of WNY has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive programs that foster healthy development and nurture the potential of every child. Serving low-income children and their families, our trauma-informed children and youth programs provide educational, social, emotional and wellness programming that promote school success and family involvement, reflect the cultural diversity of our participants, and facilitate connections between families and needed community services.

Proudly located in the Black Rock community on the Westside of Buffalo, the YWCA is committed to being a trusted community partner dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, helping families, and strengthening communities.

Educational programming:

The YWCA provides educational support to children in four school districts: Buffalo, Lackawanna, Cleve Hill and Maryvale. We support school age children from 5th through 12th grade with academic and enrichment programming. Additionally, we are a service partner provider of Westminster Community Charter School serving our community members of the Eastside of Buffalo.

Early Head Start and School Age Child Care Centers: located at School House Commons, 1005 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY we provide early childhood, afterschool and out-of-school time programming for children six weeks through 12 years of age.

After-school at Maryvale Union Free School District: located at Maryvale Intermediate and Middle Schools in Cheektowaga, this program provides academic and enrichment after-school programming to kindergarten through 6th-grade students.

Lackawanna Middle School Extended School Day (ESD) Program: located at Lackawanna Middle School, ESD provides after-school academic and enrichment programming to 6th through 8th grade students.

Full-Service Community Schools at Cleve Hill Elementary and Middle School in Cheektowaga: this program integrates academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services, as well as community development. FSCSs provide access to comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships.Full Service Community Schools at Cleve Hill Elementary and Middle School in Cheektowaga, this program integrates academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services, as well as community development. FSCSs provide access to comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships.

Children’s Centers in the Courts: located at both Erie County Family Court, 1 Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY and Buffalo City Court, 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY, the Children’s Centers provide a safe, nurturing, literacy-rich environment for children in the Court houses. The Centers facilitate connections between families and needed community services.

Housing Services:

The YWCA has been providing support to the community in the area of housing for over 150 years. Throughout Western New York, we have been able to meet the needs of women, children and seniors. School House Commons, located at 1005 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY, has 64 independent-living apartment units and is funded under the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Section 202 for Housing of the Elderly.

YWCA Western New York is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Our vision is a thriving community without divide.