YWCA Orange County and SAFE HOMES Exploring Affiliation

NEWBURGH – The Board of Directors and executive leadership of YWCA Orange County and SAFE HOMES of Orange County, the area’s leading non-profits serving women and girls, have entered into formal discussions aimed at developing a closer affiliation between the two organizations.

“Our two boards have appointed a joint task force to examine the potential of and options for our organizations to join forces,” said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, executive director of SAFE HOMES.  “No decision has been made as there is much work to do yet, but we are very excited about the possibilities,” she noted.

“In these very challenging times for women and girls, it is even more critical to explore every option for strengthening services aimed at combating the resulting inequities of continued racism and sexism in our communities,” said Christine Sadowski, executive director of YWCA Orange County. “YWCA and SAFE HOMES have a long history of collaboration over the years and we have the opportunity now, through formal affiliation, to make an even greater impact in the lives of the women, girls, and families our respective agencies serve,” she observed.

YWCA Orange County, founded in Newburgh in 1888, is a feminist, anti-racist social justice organization, committed to eliminating racism and empowering women through community programming, education, and legislative advocacy.  YWCA’s national mission of eliminating racism and empowering women is fulfilled locally through programs addressing women’s economic empowerment, racial justice (including immigration reform), women’s health, violence against women, childcare, and community collaboration. The agency serves more than 5,000 people annually through programs extending throughout Orange County.  YWCA is committed to focusing all its resources toward breaking down the structural elements of racism and sexism that lead to unequal distribution of power and access in our communities.

SAFE HOMES of Orange County is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that has grown from a grassroots small group of committed individuals in 1986 to an organization, leader, and resource in the field of intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, and human trafficking. SAFE HOMES works from a feminist philosophy of empowerment and a commitment to social change through active participation in working toward ending racism, classism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, ableism, and all forms of oppression.

SAFE HOMES of Orange County’s mission is to work toward the elimination of intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, and trafficking by providing comprehensive support services to victims and their children, and by increasing public awareness about these issues and encouraging accountability for perpetrators.

This effort is supported by a Strategic Restructuring Initiative grant from the Dyson Foundation and the professional facilitation, legal, and support services of the New York Council of Nonprofits.