Why Not the Y?

Trevor Williams

Nov 21, 2019

Many people do not know about the amazing work our Y does with low income housing for the formally homeless.  The Y has been leading the effort to solve important community issues such as homelessness.  For this Mission Moment, I wanted to share one story from a former resident:

“When I moved to Massachusetts, I only had two boxes of stuff to my name. I found my way to the Y.  I moved into a single room on the third floor. It was exactly what I needed. I was sober and wanted a safe space to get my feet under me. I made friends with the other residents and began working out every morning. After two years, I moved out and was finally able to play a part raising my daughter. For a while, we were both members at the West Suburban YMCA on financial assistance. I was so grateful to the Y for having a sliding scale financial aid program. The Y looked at our situation, set a fee I could actually pay, and helped my daughter and me feel included.

While living at the Y, I finished my college degree at UMass. I believe in myself because of the Y’s approach of body, mind, and spirit that was nurtured during my time living at the Y. I have since begun giving back to the Y’s Annual Fund to help others like I was.  When asked why I give to the Y, I say, ‘Why not the Y?!’ The West Suburban YMCA was more than a place to live. It gave me a way of life. I now teach 9th grade Algebra, just became a new Grandfather, still workout five days a week and hope in my classrooms to instill the lessons that the West Suburban Y helped me learn.”

– Christopher Langham, Former NCP Resident