Our Beneficiaries
Yorktown Shelter for Women
Yorktown Shelter for Women (YSW) provides a safe and secure haven for women and their children fleeing an abusive relationship. Staffed 24 hours a day by a multilingual and multicultural team, the shelter is committed to the well-being and empowerment of women who have been abused and to the healthy development of their children.
History
The predecessor to Yorktown Child and Family Centre was the York Child Guidance Clinic, a children’s mental health agency that had existed since September of 1949. In 1993, the Clinic formally broke from the York Public Health Department, recruited a community-based Board of Directors and incorporated as the City of York Child and Family Centre (CYCFC). Like most agencies, the Centre concentrated on providing programs for its clients, services to the community and broadening its source of funding. It began to offer new programs and activities including training and education, and put more emphasis on local planning, collaboration and community delivery of services. But CYCFC’s mission hasn’t changed. It continually strives to meet the special needs of children, youth and families.
In 1996 the CYCFC Board and Management took over responsibility for running and operating the local women’s shelter, York Shelter for Women. They added two new programs to deal with the special problems of abused women and their children, one funded by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and the second, a community-parent education program funded by the United Way.
With the creation of the new City of Toronto in September 1998, the two organizations formally changed their names to Yorktown Child & Family Centre and Yorktown Shelter for Women. The agency is more commonly known as Yorktown Family Services.
In 2002, Yorktown Child and Family Centre relocated to 21 Ascot Ave, the former Earlscourt Junior Public School, still remaining accessible to community members from the former City of York.
Today, Yorktown Family Services is a vital community resource for thousands of children, youth, women, and families in Toronto’s west end delivering our services through two integrated but independent social service agencies, Yorktown Child and Family Centre and Yorktown Shelter for Women.
Child & Family Centre: (416) 394-2424 * Shelter for Women: (416) 394-2950 * Crisis Line: (416) 394-2999
E-mail: info@yorktownfamilyservices.com
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
The Assaulted Women’s Helpline offers a 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line to all women who have experienced abuse. AWHL provides counselling, emotional support, information and referrals.
AWHL recognizes abuse as one example of women’s social, political and economic inequality in the world. The Helpline is dedicated to working towards equality for all women.
A telephone counsellor provides immediate crisis counselling, safety planning, as well as referrals to local agencies and support for the ongoing struggle to name and act against abuse. Counsellors never meet clients face to face – this is a telephone service only. Counsellors use a supportive approach that encourages women to look at their needs, and make their own informed decisions.
For more information about the Helpline please visit us at www.awhl.org. If you or someone you know needs help please call us:
Crisis Line Information
GTA – 416.863.0511
GTA TTY – 416.364.8762
TOLL-FREE – 1.866.863.0511
TOLL-FREE TTY 1.866.863.7868
#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus phone