About Grace Garden
Grace Garden provides a very special environment, one of stability, safety, and support for once-homeless individuals and families, many who are domestic violence survivors. With help from the onsite YWCA team, they gain jobs, grow in health and find new opportunities. Children create memories of laughter and play with brothers and sisters. This happens with the assurance of a place to come home to every day without fear of violence, eviction or unsafe living conditions.
Finding a home after devastating poverty or abuse is nearly impossible. When coupled with poor credit, low-income jobs, chronic homelessness, and limited education, few options are available. For 29 years, YWCA Supportive Housing has provided a proven solution to help women and their families rebuild their lives.
In 2015, YWCA developed a strategic plan with expanding supportive housing as a top priority.
In 2016, Pastor Joel Baranko from Lutheran Church of the Cross invited us to share our vision. He saw vacant church-owned property as potential grounds for additional YWCA supportive housing. Over the next few years, key partners joined the project and our vision of more homes for families in need became a reality when Grace Garden: A YWCA Supported Residence opened in September 2019.
Grace Garden: A YWCA Supported Residence now provides homes for 30 families at risk of homelessness, many of them transitioning from domestic violence. Apartment homes range from one to four bedrooms. Onsite there are also YWCA staff offices, a community room, exercise room, patio, garage and playground.
The $7.1 million project would not have been possible without our many partners:
- Lutheran Church of the Cross is leasing YWCA land adjacent to the church in West Fargo.
- Gate City Bank is donating $1.5 million over 12 years for start-up costs and supportive services. Through the Seeds of Hope program, YWCA staff will walk alongside families as they grow in stability, health, confidence
and empowerment. Each family will be supported on their journey to independence. - North Dakota Housing Finance Agency has committed $672,500 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs),$325,549 from the National Housing Trust Fund and $500,000 from the Housing Incentive Fund. An investor will syndicate the LIHTCs, bringing more than $6 million in equity to the project.
- North Dakota Department of Commerce has committed $250,000 from the Governor’s Community Development Block Grant Discretionary Funds for land acquisition.
- Wells Fargo Housing Foundation is granting $100,000 to furnish apartment homes.
- Housing Authority of Cass County has committed $2 million in Housing Choice Vouchers over 15 years to ensure affordability for 30 extremely low-income families.
- Beyond Shelter, Inc. is sharing affordable housing expertise with YWCA to develop and finance the residence.
- Shultz & Associates Architects, architects of YWCA’s present Emergency Shelter, which opened in 2004, designed Grace Garden.
How you can help
YWCA’s Supportive Housing Program offers women and their children the opportunity to live in a safe, furnished apartment while paying approximately 30% of their income back to rent – allowing them to regain stability and sure-footing.
You can help welcome families to their new homes by providing essential household items such as kitchen supplies, bedroom linens & decor, bathroom towels, cleaning supplies, and more. Or generously outfit an entire apartment for a family in need.
This is a great opportunity for individuals, businesses, clubs and church groups. With your support families in need will arrive to a fully furnished home.
Please complete our interest form to join our list of supporters that will be contacted as apartments become available for outfitting in the future or to let us know you will be dropping of supplies.
You may also give monetary donations and our team will do the shopping for you!
Through your kindness, someone who has experienced much hardship will know they are part of a caring community that supports them on their journey.
See photos from the Grace Garden Grand Opening Celebration
See photos from the construction of Grace Garden