"I feel I am a better woman, a better person, and a better mother because of (West End's) help. I feel free and can truly say I am happy. I've come very far from where I started. I felt that I had failed, but now I realize it was just something I had to deal with to be a stronger woman." --Ms. S, former West End resident.

A gift of just $100 can ensure that women like Ms. S and the other young mothers living at West End continue to receive the highest quality support services from our dedicated staff, that our low-income, formerly homeless senior residents are able to remain stably housed, and that West End's innovative program development can continue (in the coming year we will break ground on the True Colors Residence, the first permanent housing program with supportive services for homeless LGBT youth in New York).

Your generous donation ensures West End's ability to maintain our mission and programming in the face of severe government budget cuts and questionable homeless services policies. Where current city policy has reduced homeless families and individuals to mere numbers without regard to their needs and without acknowledging the lack of affordable housing, West End and our supporters realize that housing readiness is not one-size-fits-all. Youth who have no functional family supports, no employment experience, few educational opportunities, no budgeting skills, childcare concerns and who have never lived on their own before are at extreme risk of returning to shelter.

You can help us break this cycle of homelessness and ensure that residents secure the skills, experiences and confidence not just to obtain stable, permanent employment and housing, but to maintain it.

Please consider that among many things your $100 contribution can provide a young family with a new move-in kit of household staples (linens, cleaning supplies, pots, pans and dishes), fund the daily lunch program for children enrolled in our child care program for one week, or supply 10 books for young mothers in our Women's Empowerment Reading Group. 

Your $50 contribution can replace and/or repair a crib for our infant residents, arrange transportation for an intergenerational program field trip, or equip a young mother enrolled in our GED program with books and supplies.

Your $25 contribution can cover the cost of utilities for one of our 94 residence units for one week or give gifts of linens and blankets to our senior residents. 

These are difficult times for a number of New Yorkers, and especially difficult for the already vulnerable populations receiving services at West End. The need for your assistance is immediate. Please consider contributing today.