Impact Report
YWCA Impact Report - 2025
Shelter and Safety
For many survivors fleeing domestic violence, safety comes at a steep cost, with local hotel rooms averaging $135 per night. In 2025, YWCA Pierce County provided 16,461 bed nights of safe, confidential shelter, removing that financial barrier, saving survivors an estimated $2.2 million collectively, and connecting them with ongoing advocacy and support. Pet safety is also a major reason survivors delay leaving, with up to 89% of pet‑owning survivors reporting that abusers threatened, harmed, or killed their animals. By welcoming pets into our shelter, we ensure no survivor must choose between their own safety and the safety of their animals.
Childcare Access
Survivors often experience isolation from community and financial resources as part of the abuse, making childcare especially difficult to access. With local childcare costs averaging $25 per hour, this barrier can determine whether they can safely seek support. By providing 4,189 hours of childcare, our program eased that burden and created essential space for survivors to focus on healing, appointments, housing, and rebuilding stability. This $104,275 investment in childcare strengthened survivors’ ability to engage fully in services that foster long‑term safety and independence.
Peer Support and Community Healing
Healing happens in community, and our Insights Support Group embodies that truth. Through 543 hours of trauma‑informed group support, 55 survivors found a space to connect, share their experiences, and grow alongside others who understand their journey.
Advocacy and Navigation Support
Advocacy is at the heart of our mission. This year, advocates provided 1,057 hours of individualized support, including safety planning, assistance with the Address Confidentiality Program, and connection to essential resources. Each hour of advocacy lifts part of the mental and emotional load, giving survivors room to regain control, make informed decisions, and envision a safer future.
Looking Ahead
Prevention and Youth Education
Prevention is key to breaking cycles of violence. Our Education & Prevention team visited three local high schools so far in 2026, teaching 457 students about healthy relationships and early warning signs of abuse. With presentations scheduled at four additional high schools this year, we are expanding our reach to equip more young people with the knowledge to build safe, respectful relationships.
Free Trauma-Informed Counseling
Our Counseling program is expanding to meet the growing needs of survivors. While community counseling often costs $100–$180 per session, our services are completely free, removing financial barriers and centering a compassionate therapeutic relationship that supports survivors at every step of their healing journey.
A Message from the CEO
As I stepped into the role of CEO at the end of 2025, I was immediately struck by the depth of commitment, courage, and compassion that defines YWCA Pierce County. It is an honor to join this extraordinary team and to witness firsthand the vital care we provide to survivors and families across our community.
What has been unmistakably clear is that community is at the heart of everything we do. Whether offering safe shelter, standing beside survivors as they navigate complex systems, creating healing spaces for connection, or educating youth about healthy relationships- our staff, partners, and supporters show up with unwavering compassion day after day.
This impact report reflects more than numbers. It reflects people-survivors reclaiming safety, families rebuilding stability, and young people gaining tools to navigate relationships with confidence and respect. It reflects a community that refuses to look away from the realities of domestic violence and instead chooses to meet those realities with empathy, action, and hope.
I am inspired by the opportunities ahead to deepen our collective work. Together, we will strengthen our programs, expand prevention efforts, and continue building a community where all people can live free from violence.
- Abi McLane
YWCA Hotline
253-383-2593
YWCA Hotline is answered by YWCA staff during business hours.
National Domestic Violence Hotline is provided after business hours.