The YWCA of WNY, Inc. is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  Organized in 1870 to seek out and provide for the wants of the poor of the city and to furnish a boarding home for young girls and women, mission emphasis shifted over time to benefit all women and their families.

Promoting racial justice and the advancement of women are the hallmarks of the YWCA of WNY.  Programs and services that support organizational objectives include early childhood development; out-of-school time programs for school age children; transitional housing and supportive services for women and their children (with a focus on victims of domestic violence); career, education, and leadership programs for at-risk youth; and subsidized housing for seniors.

The YWCA of WNY is active in advocacy efforts and awareness campaigns that advance women’s economic empowerment, advance a work and family agenda, and educate people about domestic violence and what we can do to end the cycle.