YWCA Greater Cleveland has been serving our community for over 150 years and is the seventh oldest YWCA in the country. YWCA is committed to the liberation of all people that are marginalized by their race, ethnicity, gender, identity, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. YWCA Greater Cleveland supports marginalized individuals, especially women and girls of color, by providing direct services, empowerment programming, and advocacy while working to overcome structural barriers of equity.
YWCA Greater Cleveland has a 100% graduation rate from the early learning center. The early learning center serves children from ages 3 to 5 to empower parents to pursue their career and educational goals. Nearly 6,800 women have served at the Norma Herr Women’s Center, which is a shelter for women between the ages of 18 to 80. There are over 250 women that have received Women of Achievement Honors, over 130 youth that have served at Independence Place, and over 30,000 participants that have served in the Racial Justice Challenge.
McGregor has granted YWCA Greater Cleveland for the support of residents at Cogswell Hall. Cogswell Hall is a home that offers trauma-informed supportive services, permanent and private housing, mental health services, case management, and engaging activities for those that are homeless or have been placed in unsafe shelters in the Cleveland area. These apartments are fully furnished, with a capacity of 41 adult residents. Residents interact daily in the common spaces, as well as share 3 daily meals in their family-style dining room. Cogswell Hall helps support self-sufficiency by working with residents to achieve their personal, financial, educational, and health goals.
Cogswell Hall is a place that residents call home. Each of the residents together make a family who they can trust and rely on while making life-long memories. More than 50% of the residents are long-term residents, with some staying for over 10 years. The residents have opportunities to enjoy different cultures while socializing inside and outside of their community. Each of the cultural outings includes food represented by the cultures and a learning opportunity to understand Cleveland and the world better.
A core principle for the organization is allowing individuals to age place. This is important due to more and more Boomers turning 65 years old and people living longer than was previously expected. This principle is associated with Livable Cuyahoga. Through this program, individuals are beginning to speak up about what they would like to see and experience. Cogswell Hall is also partnered with Continuous Care, which ensures that residents’ needs will be taken care of during their entire stay, including home health aides, health screenings, social group activities, art therapy, music therapy, and cultural enrichment programs.
Cogswell Hall has been serving our community since 1878. Those that choose to be a part of Cogswell Hall are with the organization until the end of their life. Each person in the community makes Cogswell Hall a family.
