Moving Forward Together
In recent weeks, the IW Women’s Centers (IWWC) have experienced a remarkable trend. Dozens of clients have successfully moved out of IW shelters and into permanent housing. The staff at both IWWC at Taft and Crabbs Branch shelters have been working tirelessly to ensure clients are equipped and supported in their moves.
Over two days, 11 clients moved out of Crabbs Branch, with several more in the following weeks. IW staff at both shelter locations collaborated with members of Montgomery County's Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH) to form a relationship with a local landlord who was eager to assist our clients and provide them with a safe and stable place to call home.
Supriya Pandit, Program Director at IWWC at Crabbs Branch, stated, “Despite the limitations of funding, my staff worked to find creative solutions that in the end made this happen for our clients.”
The IWWC at Taft had similar success. Over the past few months, staff have helped over 20 clients move into housing, which represents half the capacity of the shelter. ChiQuitta Williams, Program Director at IWWC at Taft, noted that staff worked very hard to assist clients in understanding all the options available to them. They helped clients learn and access assistance to make sure they could become self-sufficient and maintain their housing situation to the best of their abilities. She added, “The goal of all of this is not only to help them move out but also to move out successfully.” Clients can enter their new space with a feeling of ownership because they have the tools and support they need to flourish in this next chapter.
Along with partnerships within the county government, local non-profit Towels for Tears, and a volunteer group from the National Council of Negro Women – Montgomery County both made sure every client had what they needed to make their new spaces feel like home. Every client who moved into housing was provided a “move-out kit.” These kits included bedding, towels, kitchen utensils, toiletries, and more. This generous gift helped to ensure that clients would have their needs met and be able to live comfortably.
This incredible work would not be possible without the care and dedication of our shelter staff, who worked to ensure our clients could move forward, knowing that they can always stay connected with IW. Supriya Pandit shared, “Moving out can be a scary thing because of how big of a change it is, but staying connected assures clients that they are not alone and always have us as a safety net. It is a blessing for us to meet these women and share time with them.”
We are so proud of these clients for making the step forward and we are entirely grateful to our partners and supporters for making this a possibility for so many clients. Because of the combined efforts of everyone involved, there are now beds available to new clients who need a safe place to be. Together we will continue to create and maintain stable and equitable spaces for all our neighbors.