Teen Living Program
The YWCA Teen Living Program, founded in 1995, is designed to house and support as many as eight teen mothers and up to 16 children. The program offers seven long-term placements and one emergency placement serving, on average, 25 young mothers and their children annually.

The program enables young mothers to continue their education and provides them with training in parenting skills. The young mothers are required to enroll full-time in a secondary school or a full-time GED preparation program while in the residential program.

The goal of the program is to aid young mothers in achieving economic self-sufficiency and in strengthening their parenting abilities. The YWCA Teen Living Program supports them in their efforts to earn their GEDs or high school diplomas, earn work experience, and provides them with the coaching, support and counseling they need to strengthen their skills as parents.

The YWCA Teen Living Program operates with staff support 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

The OASIS Project & The YWCA Residence
The OASIS Project at the YWCA of Greater Lawrence is a transitional housing service of the YWCA’s domestic violence program. OASIS is a comprehensive program where women with children establish and work towards personal and professional goals so that they may overcome family violence and homelessness to lead safe, self-sufficient lives. Similar in its philosophy and scope of services, the YWCA Residence houses ten formerly battered woman who are homeless who do not have children in their care.

OASIS and The YWCA Residence enable women and families to establish a source of income and stability so they can move on to permanent, safe and affordable housing.

These residences are more than housing. Participants establish and work towards personal and professional goals while they stabilize their families, employment and emotional well-being. Eligible participants need to meet certain criteria before making an application for an interview. The program coordinator reviews applications before interviews are conducted.

Transitional Housing Services
Residents are required to participate in skill-building activities that are designed to help them identify and achieve personal and professional goals. Trained YWCA staff assist residents in developing their own goals for employment, education, housing, financial security, parenting, custody issues, personal growth and more. The YWCA provides participants with the structure and support to reach these goals through several services:

• transitional housing, near public transportation
• skill-building support
• supportive services for children
• legal and housing advocacy
• employment / education counseling
• referral to counseling services
• referral to early childhood learning services
• ongoing supportive case management
• follow-up support after leaving OASIS

For additional information on the OASIS project & The YWCA Residence, contact: Linda Comeau.