The sting of abuse and negligence has been personally felt within our community at the YWCA Women's Residence of White Plains, NY. Our home, a public facility housing underprivileged women, has become a breeding ground for abuse and misconduct by the residential staff. As residents, we ask for the same respect expected by those employed here.

After multiple incidents of avoidable deaths, wrongful evictions and unsanitary living conditions — we must insist upon better! The conditions we endure on a daily basis need to be addressed with urgency. It is time for change.

At present, vulnerable women who find shelter in publicly funded housing encounter more than their share of hardships. Instead of receiving empathy and support, they are subjected to inappropriate behavior by the people designated to safeguard them. According to a 2016 study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, abuse is alarmingly common in residential facilities across the country. This is intolerable.

Regrettably, our own facility in White Plains is no exception.

We demand immediate implementation of standards, training, and disciplinary actions to prevent such sad occurrences from persisting. We call on our local authorities to address this issue promptly, raise awareness, and contribute to building an environment that upholds dignity and respect for all women.

Please support us in our endeavor to create a safe and respectful haven for our women. By signing this petition, you lend your voice to foster much-needed change, and to ensure this unacceptable abuse is eradicated.

We deserve respect. We deserve decency. We will not be silent until these basic rights are recognized and upheld. Sign the petition and lend your voice to justice today.

List of Grievances: 

Residents of the YWCA respectfully request that the YWCA and it's management be held fully responsible to the nature of their duties to provide a safe and ethical living environment. We maintain the right to question and protest the conditions under which we reside. 

We request that staff refrain from the following (under any and all circumstances): 

• Physically, mentally, verbally abusing/attacking residents
• Discouraging residents from protecting their legal rights
• Wrongful Eviction proceedings
• Tampering with/stealing residents mail, food, or other personal belongings
• Abuse and neglect of disabled and elderly populations
• Discrimination and racism towards residents of any ethnicity
• Taking food from donation drops intended for the residents
• Discouraging residents from calling 911 during emergencies
• Making non-emergent calls to police to frame residents as being "mentally unstable" in order to avoid addressing our complaints
• Entering residents rooms without proper notice as stated in lease agreement
• Removing resources such as toilet paper, paper towels and sanitary napkins from shared bathrooms

We ask that the YWCA be required to follow all health, safety, and ethical housing protocols, including treatment of people with disabilities and treatment of animals.

We demand our personal legal rights never be infringed upon, and retain the right to take any legal action necessary to maintain our highest individual autonomy.