PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVENSaturday May 10, 2025; 2710 Walton Avenue: The YWCA is using this former Volunteers of America shelter as a temporary home for its women’s shelter while its Norma Herr Women’s Center on Payne Avenue is being rehabilitated.

by Edie Le Bouton

     (Plain Press June 2025) Two women’s shelters, the YWCA’s Norma Herr Women’s Center at 2227 Payne Avenue and additional space at 2010 Walton Avenue, house 150+ women every night between the ages of 18-80. Combined beds for the two shelters are 234. If more beds are needed, St. Paul’s Community Church houses the overflow.

     In May 2018 the YWCA, headquartered at 4019 Prospect Avenue, became the operator of the shelter. 

     The YMCA Prospect Avenue building houses the administrative offices of the Norma Herr Women’s Center. The YWCA president and CEO, Helen Forbes Fields, and her team, reside here. There is an Early Learning Center at the YMCA building servicing children aged 3-5 years old. It is funded through HUD and the USDA. Twenty Head Start vouchers pay for 20 of the children, and “wrap around” services provided by the Early Learning Center help parents or care givers of the children.

     The administration building has 23 apartments on the top floor for young women 18-24 years old. These women have aged out of foster care or have left a troubling situation. They are taught life skills and given care for trauma.

     All barriers are eliminated when a woman needs a place to stay. She may be addicted to drugs or alcohol or have a criminal background. It doesn’t matter. A coordinated intake is conducted and processes them through a Continuum of Care through the Office of Homeless Services. There is no time limit on how long a woman can stay at the shelter.

     The Norma Herr Women’s Center building on Payne Avenue is currently undergoing a major renovation. The renovation came about because of COVID. The shelter is being revamped according to the new way to define a shelter, with space and not crowded conditions. The Eden Group and the Office of Homeland Services funded the renovation.

     Some of the resources the shelter provides are help in finding housing, assistance with vouchers, and help with landlords.

     Help to find work through the Employment Workforce program doesn’t stop once a woman is employed. Support is offered to her weekly.

     Metro Health comes to the shelters as well as Care Alliance, Front Line Services, and Momentum Behavior Health.

     Volunteers help to serve meals and at health screenings.

     The shelters rely on donations of hygiene items, cleaning products, detergent pods and pull ups for all sizes as well as everything that will help a woman set up her new apartment. Go to https://www.ywcaofcleveland.org/ to donate. There is even an option to adopt a family.

     The YWCA gets part of its funding from events. On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, an event at the Severance Music Center, beginning at 5:00 p.m., will honor nine remarkable women whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact in Northeast Ohio. Tickets to the event are available at www.ywcaofcleveland.org or by calling 216-881-6878.

     For more information about the YWCA’s Norma Herr Women’s Center, its services, or volunteer opportunities, please call 216-479-0020, or email info@ywcaofcleveland.org.