Here at The Women's Center, the phones ring constantly:
- Regina is worried her 14-year-old son is withdrawn and struggling in school. She feels lost about how to help him.
- Eva is on her second round of unemployment benefits and is desperate to find work.
- Maggie hasn't had health coverage for two year and is struggling with depression.
- Marissa's partner controls her bank account, limits her phone calls and refuses to let her go anywhere without him.
- Sharon cannot understand why, six months after the death of her husband, she is still so sad. Her friends are worried and wish she would cheer up.
- Casey needs to show a tax return in order to apply for housing, but she's never done her taxes before.
As a local grassroots nonprofit organization, The Women's Center helps women like these: women in crisis, families in transition, women needing jobs and women taking charge of their emotional and financial well-being.
We serve over 500 individuals a year (92 percent women and girls; 7 percent men and boys; 1 percent transgender), representing about 7,500 appointments. Additionally, we provide referral resources to another 3000 individuals.
Participants come from a six-county area in southeastern Michigan, driving as far as 45 minutes to an hour in order to access our affordable, women-friendly programs.
- 52% of Women's Center participants are supporting young children (an average of nearly 2 children per family).
- More than 30% of Women's Center clients have experienced physical or sexual abuse as adults.
- 20% of Women's Center clients are unemployed and are hoping to find work to support themselves and their families. An additional 33% report that they are underemployed (i.e., have work that doesn't match their skills or needs) or are working only part-time. 20% of Women's Center clients have no health insurance while those at very low income levels rely on federal, state, and county health insurances such as WCHP and Medicaid/Medicare.
- 60% of our clients make $25,000 or less per year, and 30% earn $10,000 or less.
- Low wages cannot be attributed primarily to lack of education. 60% of the women in our programs have had some college and an additional 20% have more than 16 years of schooling.
- 2% of participants identify as American Indian; 3% as Asian/Pacific Islander; 5% as Latina; 24% as African-American; 65% as European-American; and 1% as "other."
Did You Know?
Michigan ranks last of all 50 states on measures of women's mental health. One of the reasons for the state's rock-bottom ratings (a D+ grade for women's overall health and well-being) is "inadequate mental health treatment access." [source]
Michigan women earn only 67 cents for every dollar men earn, compared to the national average of 77 cents for women's earning. This ratio is for women working full-time, many of whom have children to support. [source]
Many women consider themselves "middle-class" until divorce or domestic violence catapult them into poverty—an average income loss of 27% or more. [source]
Improving women's access to legal, mental health, and financial services produces a positive "ripple" effect. When women have the tools to assert their economic and emotional strengths, families and communities also thrive.
