YWCA Evanston/North Shore

Emergency Shelter
Mary Lous Place provides safe shelter, combined with crisis intervention and critical support services that allow survivors and their children the space and time to begin to heal from the trauma of domestic violence.
When a client arrives at the Mary Lous Place, their immediate needs, as well as those of their children, are addressed. Provided a private room for the family, many of which have private bathrooms, residents are given clothing, bed linens and personal supplies.

During their stay, advocates and childrens counselors provide daily individual and group counseling sessions, parent/child workshops, and specialized workshops such as health education, job readiness, and financial literacy. This important combination of emotional and practical support enables survivors to access the resources and find within themselves the ability to achieve self-sufficiency.
Long Term Housing

Bridges, YWCAs longer term housing program, enables survivors to secure the economic resources and longer-term supports to achieve stable and sustainable futures.

Bridges deepens YWCAs impact, by helping even more women and children move beyond surviving to thriving!  Bridges provides residents with:

    Trauma-informed counseling for survivors
    Workforce training and employment assistance
    Permanent housing support
    Financial education and legal assistance
    Early-intervention and trauma-informed therapies for children
    Health care referrals

Bridges residents live in a 15-unit apartment building, with one and two bedroom apartments which can accommodate up to 52 women and children.