The ywca of kitsap county is dedicated to ensuring the personal safety, rights, welfare, and dignity of those who experience domestic abuse while building partnerships and increasing community awareness to create positive social change.

The ywca kitsap county shelter program provided up to 90 days' emergency housing. These women and children were offered legal and housing advocacy as well as safety planning. Many shelter clients also took advantage of our weekly support groups. The shelter upgraded its electrical wiring in the attic which supports all floors. Breaker switches were upgraded. All upgrades were donated by electrical union. The front deck and handicap accessible ramp was rebuilt. Started a new partnership with dave stewart and his mission food pantry where he shares food with the shelter. Mcdonalds of east bremerton started a partnership where they share frozen burgers, meats, eggs and hash browns that they have an abundance of each week. All advocates were given an increase from a dshs grant that was the hard work of our wscadv state coalition and dshs. the ywca kitsap county bainbridge island/north kitsap program consists of a satellite office in bainbridge island that increases accessibility to legal, housing, and support group services for the north kitsap area. A trained, full-time advocate is available to help clients obtain no contact orders against their abusers, navigate the court system, and find safe and stable housing. Dshs workfirst grant received an increase. Advocate partnered with new therapist and treatment provider at the dshs cso. Bainbridge island/nk advocate started a new support group on bainbridge and the bainbridge senior center provided a room at their bainbridge senior community building. the ywca kitsap county legal program offers victims of domestic violence help with safety planning, obtaining no contact orders against their abusers, and navigating the court system. Our legal program also organizes victims' support groups in various locations around the county including a group at the county jail for incarcerated victims. The ywca kitsap county legal program continued to partner with the prosecuting attorney's office on the saivs program, and received funding for bi-lingual advocate and continued agencies victims services training coordination. The legal program finished the first year of our jail dv support group with kitsap county women's corrections. This program was allocated inkind rent of $4,800. in 2017, the ywca kitsap county housing program continued to do home visits with families residing in ywca units and bremerton housing units and support families who call and walk in that are homeless or fleeing that need advocacy support. Received some flexible funding through seattle metals guild to help with deposits, gas vouchers and family's needs. Advocate was on the executive committee of the kitsap continuum of care. She was able to help make decisions on the direction of the c of c and support agencies and develop partnerships with other agencies.