Don’t ignore the vulnerable

Regarding “No more services in Ward 3” (Feb. 3): We couldn’t agree more that we need more beautiful spaces and social and recreational activities in Ward 3. We are so proud to have opened a worldclass building in Ward 3 — the Putman Family YWCA — and expanded programming for seniors, both in-person and online. We consistently try to balance the needs of many vulnerable populations, including seniors, child care, programs for newcomers, health services and housing programs.

At our MacNab Street location — which is notably in Ward 2, not Ward 3 — we are currently renovating our building to better serve our community. This has included incorporating a Safer Use Space on our first floor along with an overnight drop-in for women who are unhoused.

However, we continue to offer seniors programs throughout the pandemic, and have always ensured that community members have appropriate spaces available to them in our buildings. Renovations are never without their challenges, but we are certainly excited to complete construction and welcome our seniors back to their pre-pandemic program space later this year.

At YWCA Hamilton, we are proud to meet the diverse needs of the community, whether for seniors, unhoused people, people using substances, new Canadians, survivors of gender-based violence, or people experiencing mental illness. Ignoring the needs of any of these vulnerable populations will only ensure more hardship — both for the individuals and the city overall.

Medora Uppal, CEO, YWCA Hamilton