UTICA, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2025) – The decision by the White House to pause federal grants and loans is cause for concern for millions of women, girls, and families around the country who rely on small, local non-profits like YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) for life-changing services.
Small, local non-profits like YWCA MV rely on federal funding to keep our doors open.
Every year, there are thousands of individuals here in the Mohawk Valley who seek out the life-saving programs and services we offer at YWCA MV. Our domestic and sexual violence crisis services are provided at no cost to our client, always confidential, and available 24-hours. The loss of federal funding sources for our agency, even for a short period of time, would have a dire impact on our ability to render these life-changing, -saving, and -affirming services.
This freeze, if upheld, will directly and almost immediately impact our ability to provide our free and 24-hour crisis services to our community. The elimination of access to such services puts lives at risk.
We call upon our elected officials to advocate for local non-profits, end the freeze as soon as possible, and ensure agencies like ours can continue serving our communities.
YWCA Mohawk Valley is a nonsectarian organization engaged in the mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. In 2023, YWCA MV provided more than 36,000 instances of service to individuals in Herkimer and Oneida Counties via such programs as domestic and sexual violence crisis services, violence prevention education, residential services for homeless women and children, and emergency shelters and transitional housing for individuals escaping violence. YWCA MV offers free and confidential help 24/7. In Oneida County, call or text 315.797.7740 for domestic and sexual violence crisis services. In Herkimer County, call 315.866.4120 for child advocacy and sexual violence crisis services. Visit ywcamv.org/Chat anytime to directly reach an advocate through a private chat server. More information about YWCA MV can be found by visiting ywcamv.org or by contacting Allison Flanagan at aflanagan@ywcamv.org or 315.732.2159 ext. 245.
