Northwest Ohio YWCA greenlights phase two of renovation project

Though renovations for phase one at the YWCA of Northwest Ohio are still under way, the center is already looking forward to phase two.

“Knowing that we will be able to … move directly into the next phase is wonderful not only for the staff that work in this building, who deserve so much more, but for every single individual who steps foot into this building,” said Lisa McDuffie, the president and chief executive officer of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio.

The YWCA, at 1018 Jefferson Ave., offers housing services for individuals experiencing sexual and domestic violence. It also provides support and educational resources for the community.

Ms. McDuffie was joined by state Reps. Michele Grim (D., Toledo) and Elgin Rogers, Jr. (D., Toledo), state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D., Toledo), and Erica Krause, the Northwest Ohio regional representative for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D., Ohio) office.

With the help of both state and national legislators, the YWCA has received $5.5 million for the second phase of their renovations. The center received $2.5 million from the state capital budget and $3 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The second phase of the project will build upon the foundation laid during phase one. The second floor will be converted into additional resident rooms, a kitchen, and an indoor children’s play area. The third floor will be completely renovated with new resident rooms.

The space, where an Olympic-sized swimming pool once stood, is currently being filled in with concrete and infrastructure to allow for an expansion on the first floor that will house administrative offices, a computer lab, and a library. This is all a part of the first phase, which costs $13.5 million.

“We needed $17.3 [million]. We raised $13.5. We had a gap,” Ms. McDuffie said. “So we set out to approach our elected officials.”

The $5.5 million in state and federal funding put the project over its goal of $17.3 million, but Ms. McDuffie said they will need the extra money.

“We need to keep fundraising so that we make sure we have a sizable safety net in case something happens, and anything left will go directly to programming to help us with operations,” she said.

The shelter currently has 17 rooms, but the renovations will more than double that number, but more residents means more people requiring more help, Ms. McDuffie said.

Additionally, they needed $10.3 million before they could break ground on phase one in April, but only had $9 million at the time. They reached out to the Lucas County Port Authority, who loaned them the gap money. Ms. McDuffie said, as of right now, that’s the only debt they will owe on the entire project, which will be paid back through pledged donations.

“This is so much bigger than all of us can imagine,” Ms. McDuffie said. “To think that every government entity has a hand in this, in addition to corporations in our community, in addition to private donors — this is everybody’s project.”

It is a sentiment that rings true for both Ms. Grim and Mr. Rogers.

Prior to her political career, Ms. Grim worked in rape crisis counseling and has been an advocate for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

“This is something that has been very near and dear to my heart for a long time,” Ms. Grim said, referring to the YWCA’s renovations. “I’m so glad to be able to work on stuff like this in the statehouse.”

On Friday, Mr. Rogers was excited to see how far along phase one was as he had worked to secure funding before he assumed office in 2023. From Columbus, he was able to help secure the rest of the money needed to complete the project.

“They told me as a freshman legislator, you have to be in the statehouse for years, and it’s kind of discouraging,” Mr. Rogers said. “But I’m from Toledo, and we don’t believe that, right?”

Brent Gray, a senior project manager with Program Solutions, is spearheading the renovations. He said phase one is expected to be complete by May, 2025. Although they have not started with phase two of the project yet, he expects it to take about eight months.

“This project is not just for this county, it’s not just for the city of Toledo, but it is a beacon,” Ms. Hicks-Hudson said. “It is a safe haven for women throughout northwest Ohio.”