About
YWCA Toronto is a leader and collaborator in the provision of feminist, intersectional and transformative programming and advocacy for women, girls and gender diverse people. Since opening our doors in 1873, we have been a stable and uniting force, working to improve the lives of communities facing marginalization across Toronto.
Today, YWCA Toronto programs promote equity, economic security and lives free from violence. We help women, girls and gender diverse people flee violence and heal, secure safe housing, find jobs, enhance skills, and develop confidence. We offer a range of housing and shelter options, employment and training programs, community support programs, leadership programming for girls and gender diverse youth, and family programs. We engage in systemic advocacy designed to influence policy and legislative change and push forward change in gender equity, poverty reduction and social justice.
Through our programs and services are guided by our new strategic plan, a Bold Purpose, we seek a radical transformation of society where all women, girls and gender diverse people can thrive.
Our Impact
YWCA Toronto is dedicated to creating opportunities for women, girls and gender diverse people to fully participate and prosper in our community.
A recognized leader in transforming the lives of marginalized women, girls and gender diverse individuals in Toronto, our 35 programs across 15 locations in the city and beyond offer high-impact, life-changing services to almost 15,000 women and girls annually, helping them to meet their goals of self-sufficiency and independence.
YWCA Toronto’s shelters and supportive, affordable housing help women and children escape violence and poverty. As a leading provider of women-focused housing and shelter in Canada, we operate 882 permanent, affordable and supportive housing apartments at five sites, including 30 units of scattered housing, for single women and gender diverse people, as well as women and gender diverse people with families.
Our range of employment and training programs guide several thousand women a year to greater economic safety and sustainable futures. In community support programs, we help families to thrive, and at our Girl’s Centre and Camp Tapawingo, we offer girls a vital space to develop confidence, new skills and long-lasting friendships. Through our advocacy, we ensure that women’s diverse voices continue to be heard.
