For years, YWCA Richmond has helped survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children find safety in a moment of crisis. This year, we began building something different: a place they can call home.
Construction is well underway on The Heights, a new community in eastern Henrico County that will include 19 deeply affordable apartments for survivors and their children. The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments will give families the opportunity to stay for a year or more as they work toward greater stability and independence.
It is a significant step forward for YWCA Richmond—and part of a larger effort to build the YWCA of the future by creating transformational solutions for the women, families and children we serve.
For survivors leaving an abusive relationship, finding a safe place to go is often only the beginning. Securing affordable housing, finding work, arranging childcare and navigating legal and financial challenges can all become barriers to building a new life.
The Heights was designed with those realities in mind.
Residents will have access to a host of wraparound services including counseling, case management, legal advocacy, workforce navigation and other resources onsite. The community is also close to schools, employment opportunities and public transportation. Together, the housing and services are designed to give families something that emergency shelter alone cannot provide: the stability to build their futures.
“Safety is the first step, but survivors also need the stability and support to decide what comes next,” said Rupa Murthy, CEO of YWCA Richmond. “The Heights gives families a home while they begin rebuilding their lives on their own terms. We have talked about this vision for years. To see it becoming real is an extraordinary moment for our organization and for the families we serve.”
The Heights represents more than an expansion of YWCA Richmond’s housing services. It is a new way of thinking about how we help families move beyond crisis—bringing stable housing and critical resources together in one community and giving survivors the time and support they need to move forward.
