Transitional Services
Transitional Opportunities Project (TOP)
The mission of the YWCA’s Transitional Opportunities Project is to empower women involved in the criminal justice system in order to improve their lives. TOP provides safety, opportunity and independence for approximately 100 women each year. Over three decades of experience working with these women has offered an opportunity to gather information about their histories and experiences that has created an informal profile of the women we serve.
Largely, our clients have a ninth grade education, sparse or sporadic legal work history and few transferable skills. However, approximately 15-20% of the women have achieved a higher level of education and experienced a measure of success in their careers. Despite the diversity of the women who have walked into these doors, a few striking similarities exist in their journeys: neglect, molestation and abuse; mental, emotional and/or physical pain self-managed by alcohol, illegal substances or prescription drug abuse; poor self-esteem, abusive or controlling partner relationships.
Over the years, TOP staff has learned that there is no “one size fits all” approach to supporting and assisting the TOP residents in moving through their transition into or back to their community. However, we know two things: 1) the women will get out of the program at least as much as they put into it and; 2) abuse changes everything.
The YWCA of Greater Portland has successfully administered a residential transition center for women offenders at the downtown facility since 1979. The YWCA has contracted with federal, state and Multnomah and Washington County corrections systems for services which include pre-release transitioning, public law probation cases, pre-trial monitoring, home confinement supervision and transitional housing. TOP provides a safe and supportive environment as well as a wide range of effective transition services. The residential program serves up to 25 women at one time, including pregnant women (who may deliver while with TOP).
Program Objectives and Activities
Our program consists of four main elements:
1) Teaching life management skills utilizing organizational and accountability tools.
2) Teaching skills for personal identification of life changes needed to establish a responsible lifestyle in the community.
3) Teaching goal setting and achievement techniques for accomplishing change.
4) Facilitating community connections necessary to achieve life goals.
The ONLY gender-specific program of its kind in the Country, the YWCA Transitional Opportunities Project provides specific services for women including case management, mental health services, housing assistance and transportation support. All residents have access to free voicemail boxes, free laundry facilities and free access to the 10th Avenue Athletic Club. All placements in the TOP program are initiated through referrals from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Multnomah County Department of Community Justice.
Transitional Housing
A room of one’s own, safe and secure--sometimes that’s a woman’s first step towards turning her battered life around. The YWCA of Greater Portland offers such a haven in our Transitional Housing Program. We help women break through housing barriers and assist them in developing strong skills so they may live on their own permanently.
Women live in 20 units of transitional housing on the fourth floor of our downtown center. Units are single resident occupancy (SROs) with a common kitchen, lounge and bath facilities. We welcome ultra low-income women, women escaping domestic violence, women in recovery from alcohol or substance abuse, women leaving homelessness and women transitioning from the Transitional Opportunities Project (TOP) and their children. Residents may stay from two months to two years.
Transitional Housing is funded by a federal grant and housing fees.
For more information on YWCA Transitional Services, please contact Robyn Fountain, Program Manager, at 503.294.7436 or robynf@ywca-pdx.org.
The YWCA of Greater Portland
Over 100 Years Providing Safety * Opportunity * Independence
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