They're Home!

One of the most meaningful moments for our West Niagara program recently was supporting a mom who had been separated from her children simply because she didn’t have safe, stable housing. She had been navigating multiple systems, showing up for every appointment, doing everything asked of her, but without a place of her own, reunification just wasn’t possible.  

She said to staff, “I’m doing all the right things, but I keep getting stuck.” 

When she moved into her own unit through YW’s Transitional Housing Program in West Niagara, everything shifted. Staff met her where she was and helped her settle quickly with consistent check‑ins, advocacy alongside her caseworker, transportation support, and a plan that focused on stability, routine, and rebuilding confidence. 

Having her own home, paired with steady support, finally gave her the space to move forward. She worked closely with staff to complete the requirements in her reunification plan and stayed connected to her broader support team. 

A few weeks later, after months of setbacks before coming to us, she got the call she’d been waiting for. Standing in her own hallway, she told staff: 

“This place gave me back my family. I couldn’t do it until I had somewhere safe to live.” 

Today, she and her children are together again and moving toward long‑term housing. The kids are back in their routines, and she’s rebuilding a future that felt out of reach not long ago. “My kids are home! This finally feels like a real home.” 

This is what our Transitional Housing Program does every day… it creates the stability that makes reunification and long‑term safety possible. It brings families together and gives them a light at the end of the tunnel. 

-YWCA Niagara Region Staff Member