A call for more support amid housing crisis
As the holiday season approaches, there is a growing crisis facing women and children across East Central Indiana: the shortage of affordable housing and the increased challenges with the Housing Choice Voucher system.
These barriers are causing more families to seek emergency shelter – and to stay longer than ever at places like YWCA Central Indiana.
We are seeing women and children enter our shelter with no pathway out, not because they aren’t trying, but because the housing simply doesn’t exist. Families are doing everything right, yet the system is gridlocked.
Those who once stayed 30 to 45 days are now remaining for months due to housing scarcity, long waitlists, and limited landlord participation. YWCA Central Indiana remains one of the few places in the region where women and children experiencing homelessness can find immediate safety and support.
When Jasmine arrived at the YWCA with her two young sons, she carried everything they owned in two trash bags. After losing her job and escaping a dangerous living situation, she had spent weeks bouncing between couches and motels.
“I was trying to be strong for my boys,” she told me. “But every night I cried after they fell asleep. I didn’t know what tomorrow would look like.”
At YWCA Central Indiana, Jasmine found more than a bed; she found a team committed to her family’s future. She received meals, clothing, and childcare support. Our case managers helped her secure full-time employment, enroll in financial coaching, and begin the process of finding stable housing.
YWCA Central Indiana partners with Muncie Community Schools, Open Door Health Services, IU Ball Memorial Hospital, PathStone, Soup Kitchen of Muncie, Christian Ministries, Muncie OUTreach, Ball State University, Ivy Tech Community College, Workforce Development, and the City of Muncie – along with many others.
These partners help ensure that women and children receive the essential wraparound services they need – from healthcare and education to employment support and basic needs. With the strength of our partners, we help families rebuild their lives.
Within a few months, Jasmine signed the lease on her first apartment.
“My sons smile more now,” she shared. “They finally feel safe – and so do I. The YWCA gave us our life back.”
Jasmine’s story is one of many. And with your help, we can ensure that more women and children experience this same transformation.
YWCA also oversees the region’s annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which documents the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The data guides federal funding and helps identify regional needs. This year, the PIT count is Jan. 28, 2026.
Volunteers are needed for outreach, surveying, and supply distribution. If you’d like to volunteer, call 765-284-3345 and ask for our program coordinator or email us at info@ywcacenin.org
The holidays should bring hope, not fear. Help us help more women like Jasmine. Your support gives women and children the stability they need to start again. If you’d like to give, donate here.
WaTasha Barnes Griffin is the President and CEO of YWCA Central Indiana, where she leads with a commitment to elevating the voices of marginalized communities. As a passionate community advocate, she also serves as a trustee on the Muncie Community School Board and is actively involved in a variety of organizations dedicated to creating positive, lasting change.