Downtown Location
Our downtown location is a 12-story building conveniently located in the heart of Madison on the Capitol Square at 101 East Mifflin Street. It was formerly the historic Belmont Hotel, built in the 1920s. The largest provider of affordable housing to women in Dane County, YWCA is home to more than 450 women, children, and families each year.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
608.257.1436, option 2
Fax 608.257.1439
Empowerment Center
YWCA’s Empowerment Center, located at 2040 S. Park Street, provides resources to individuals seeking to find, change, or maintain a job and acquire skills to advance in the workplace. Staff and other resources are available to help with resume and cover letter writing, job application completion, and finding new job opportunities.
Hours of Operation
Open by appointment only. Please call 608.257.1436, option 3 to schedule an appointment.
Fax 608.395.2598
Accommodations
If you need an interpreter, translator, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to access this service, activity or program, please contact Property Manager, April Elvington via email or at 608-257-1436, option 2. Please do so at least four days prior to the appointment.
Information for program participants with disabilities about their rights can be found on the City of Madison Website.
Concealed Carry Policy
Although Wisconsin law permits individuals with a valid permit to carry concealed weapons in public areas and vehicles in Wisconsin, YWCA Madison does not permit firearms or other weapons in any of its buildings. In keeping with this policy, signs posted at all YWCA Madison building and vehicle entrances state: Firearms and weapons are prohibited in this building.
Community Space Usage
YWCA Madison provides meeting space, dependent on room availability, to local organizations that share a mission and vision similar to YWCA. Due to the current global health climate, YWCA Madison is currently not open to outside organizations for community space usage.
Frequently Asked Questions About YWCA Madison
The YWCA Madison has over 25 programs that fit into one of the following categories:
- Advancing race & gender equity to create a more inclusive community;
- Helping people improve their financial situations through job training & transportation; and
- Supporting people in housing & shelter.
YWCA Madison provides wrap-around services that partner with people as they move towards self-sufficiency. From the infant on Third Street to teens in Restorative Justice, to the displaced homemaker looking for employment, to our eldest resident, YWCA is supporting people throughout their lifetime. YWCA takes a holistic approach to help people by addressing the root causes of poverty such as homelessness, unemployment/underemployment, and racism.
YWCA Madison is home to 150 women, children, and families every night. YWCA provides affordable housing through our Single Room Occupancy (dorm style) apartments for single women and the Third Street Program for single mothers with young children. In addition, YWCA provides shelter to homeless families.
Most YWCA Madison residents pay rent and sign a lease to live at YWCA. There are 12 units of shelter, where the families do not pay rent as YWCA Madison is part of the Dane County shelter system and provides shelter for families with minor children.
Thousands of people are empowered through all of YWCA Madison’s programs, from homeless families living at 101 E. Mifflin Street to people engaging in conversations about race through our Race & Gender Equity and Restorative Justice programs to riders getting to and from work on YW Transit and more.
Yes. Through our housing, job training and transportation services, and Racial & Restorative Justice programs, men benefit from the services we provide.
YWCA Madison has a diverse income stream to ensure the financial health of our organization. Each year we seek donations from community supporters, conduct fundraising events, apply for grants from public and private sources, and earn income from rent.
Yes. YWCA Madison is a 501(c)(3) organization and your donation to the YWCA is tax-deductible, less the value of any goods or services you receive. For example, goods or services would include a meal if you attend one of our fundraising events. We work hard to keep costs low so that more of your donation goes directly to support people in our programs.
YWCA once stood for Young Women’s Christian Association. However, this is a reflection of the history of YWCA and thus we only use the acronym YWCA when we refer to ourselves today.
When the YWCA USA was established over 160 years ago, it was founded in the Christian faith. Today, the YWCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and not a faith-based organization.
In Madison, the YWCA and the YMCA are separate non-profit entities with different missions. While YWCA focuses on eliminating racism and empowering women through housing, employment, transportation, and programs addressing race relations, the YMCA focuses on healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.
No, we no longer have a swimming pool, nor do we provide fitness classes.