No. It is affordable housing with support services and no defined deadline for program exit. Residents pay up to 30 percent of their annual income toward their rent and receive supportive services. YWCA Emergency Shelter is different in that it offers urgent shelter and crisis services.

A common thread Lantern Light shares with a shelter stay is the human aspect of a caring and professional YWCA support advocate or case manager.

Survivors often lack the building blocks of independence: a living wage, savings to weather life’s emergencies, adequate credit, and access to childcare and transportation. In 2022, the average YWCA Emergency Shelter stay was 50 days. Many will find jobs and make significant progress in these weeks, yet it’s not enough time to heal and reach financial stability.

Supportive housing is a particular need of domestic violence survivors, challenged by a prioritization system used by HUD and local shelters that first place people who’ve been chronically homeless. Often, those fleeing domestic violence are homeless for the first time. Lantern Light has flexibility to more quickly house survivors of domestic violence.

Local data clearly supports YWCA’s Housing Program expansion. Our area seriously lacks affordable rental homes. In Cass County, 39.8% of households were cost burdened in 2020. The term cost-burdened means more than 30% of monthly income applies to rent. Cost-burdened homes sometimes face tough choices and must sacrifice food, car insurance, or medical care to pay rent … or face eviction.

What’s more, lower-income households are the population segment growing fastest in Cass County. Seventeen percent of households (13,383 of our total 78,672 households) made less than $26,000 annually and were categorized “Extremely Low Income” in the 2020 Census. Already direly short of affordable options, these households are forecast to grow 7.6% or another 1,023 households by 2025. Sixteen percent of households earned $26,000-$43,450 annually and, categorized “Very Low Income,” will grow 8.4%, or another 1,046 households. That means more than 2,000 new, affordable homes are needed.

Individuals and families escaping domestic violence will be provided a preference for housing, followed by those facing homelessness. YWCA is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

At YWCA, supportive housing costs far less than shelter:

• $66 for a night of shelter
• $18 for a night of supportive housing

Since 1990, YWCA supportive housing has been a proven solution. A woman who participates in the program earns more money, is healthier, and is better equipped to maintain housing and create a family where children thrive. Survivors of domestic violence have time to resolve complete financial ruin by abusers, often navigating single parenthood as the sole income provider. For some, the timeline is lengthy and challenging, and the stability of housing across months and years is what it takes to end poverty for her and the next generation.

YWCA Supportive Housing has helped thousands to become healthier, secure better jobs, stay employed, engage with teachers and schools, maintain an apartment, gain justice through court prosecution of violent abusers, build better credit, save for reliable cars, and accomplish many other successes. For children, it has meant a dinner table where there are family meals and space for homework. They have warm beds and a real home where friends come over to play. Home has been at the heart of their healthy development.

Supportive housing brings affordable homes coupled with YWCA services to survivors of domestic violence and homelessness. In this special housing, women and children can live safely, heal, and gain new skills to live with the greatest possible independence. At the same time, children grow up in safe home environments that are essential to ending cycles of poverty and violence.

Supportive housing prevents dangerous homelessness or return to abusers - both carrying high human cost as well as costs that accrue to the community through expensive emergency care, law enforcement involvement, and other systems.

Applicants must go through a screening process and qualify to live at Lantern Light. Some applicants will come from existing YWCA programming, while others will be referred from other organizations.

Families can stay as the long as they need. This is permanent supportive housing, and recovering physically, mentally, and economically from the effects of abuse and poverty may take many years. Individuals with children who bear the sole financial responsibility for a family during costly child-rearing years face tremendous challenge. Residents may increase their income while living at Lantern Light. If they exceed the annual median area income, they may continue to live at Lantern Light but will pay market rent.

Lantern Light is for individuals and families of limited financial means. The apartments have income caps, so residents may not move into the residence if they exceed these caps. Some residents will grow their income while living at Lantern Light. If they exceed the annual median area income for their apartment unit, they may continue living at Lantern Light but will pay market rent. Many will reach a point of financial security and opt to live independently outside the program.

Just like YWCA Shelter, Lantern Light will provide caring advocacy services. Professionals are trained to navigate community resources, troubleshoot life’s challenges, and offer a voice of encouragement to help individuals and families feel steady and assured. Other services include:

• Resources and coaching to find jobs, training, or education
• Nursing services
• Transportation assistance
• Childcare assistance
• Staple food items on an individual basis
• Basic need items like shampoo and household cleaning supplies donated by community members

Individuals and families can have visitors but must follow the policy outlined in their lease, which will recognize the need for safety by individuals and families recovering from domestic violence.

For the community, YWCA Supportive Housing addresses important societal goals: ending domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and racial injustice. YWCA’s housing program serves a high proportion of black and Native American women who are helped in gaining economic security. Through YWCA, they have level opportunity for housing, plus resources to secure employment and other supports that remove barriers people of color commonly face.

The community is invited to “Shine a Light” at Lantern Light and be the first to welcome families to their new homes. You can make a difference by helping outfit apartments with kitchen, bath, and bedroom items, décor, towels and rugs, cleaning supplies, and more. This is a great opportunity for businesses, clubs, and church groups! Get started by visiting www.ywcacassclay.org/lanternlight and filling out the interest form. A YWCA team member will follow up about what’s needed and how to deliver your gift.

You are also invited to ignite an eternal flame at Lantern Light to ensure the supportive services survivors of violence and homelessness need are available when they need them. YWCA is halfway to our goal of building a $6.2M endowment to support the families who will be served at Lantern Light into perpetuity. Contact Jill at 701.478.2250 or jdevries@ywcacassclay.org to learn more.