LIHU‘E — The YWCA of Kaua‘i is branching out and renovating a former bank branch to create a comprehensive women’s center that will house several much-needed services. The nonprofit, which has served the needs of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau for more
LIHU‘E — The YWCA of Kaua‘i is branching out and renovating a former bank branch to create a comprehensive women’s center that will house several much-needed services.
The nonprofit, which has served the needs of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau for more than 90 years, recently doubled it’s “Empowering the Future” capital campaign goal to $2 million in order to complete projects related to the renovation, said Renae Hamilton, YWCA executive director.
The group has already raised “close to a million dollars,” said Hamilton, but is looking to reach the $2 million mark to do several extra projects, including replacing the air conditioning unit and repairing parking lots between the two buildings.
“The community has been very generous with materials,” said Hamilton, adding that the YWCA has received materials from Habitat for Humanity and Honsador, along with hours of work from contractors and laborers, with assistance from a group of county jail inmates completing community service.
The new LIhu‘e facility, at 4410 Hardy Street, is the former office space of the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union.
The building is across the parking lot of the YWCA offices, which will continue housing the administration offices and programs for sex offenders, Hamilton said.
“Our new center will be for every woman. It will be a much-needed resource for the entire community,” YWCA board president Angela Anderson said.
“Not only will it allow us to better serve victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and expand our youth initiatives and economic empowerment programs, we will be growing our reach and creating new career opportunities. This is a very exciting time for the YWCA of Kaua‘i.”
Once renovations are finished, the new building will house office space for several YWCA programs and services including sex assault treatment, youth services, domestic violence services, counseling services, and economic empowerment programs.
Hamilton said the YWCA holds a state contract to offer a 26 week alternatives to violence program, but the program only connivers individuals. With the expansion, the YWCA will be able to offer couples and family therapy, and will be able to bill the family’s insurance provider, such as HMSA or Quest, to recover costs as an additional revenue source.
By increasing the treatment and prevention programs, the YWCA will be able to be a better community partner by working together to make the island’s homes free from violence, Hamilton said.
“We are working to break the cycle of violence and abuse,” Hamilton said
The vision of the YWCA of Kaua‘i involves a strong commitment to eliminating violence in all of its forms, especially in the areas of domestic and sexual violence; providing treatment to those who have been traumatized by violence; and providing the skills training and opportunities for change necessary so that individuals who have been violent can live productive and caring lives, according to their website.
“We have highly qualified staff,” Hamilton said of the people who will be running the various programs. “They are really experts in their area.”
In all of the YWCA’s services to victims and perpetrators of violence, the primary emphasis is to be victim-centered and foster empowerment.
“We’re here for everyone in the community,” Hamilton said. “Men as well as women. We’re here for everybody.”
