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History

Seattle’s oldest transitional housing program for homeless women, Jubilee Women’s Center (JWC) first opened its doors in 1983 as a project of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. The Sisters founded, and continue to sponsor, Jubilee in celebration of their 100th anniversary as a community. Since then, Jubilee has evolved into an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a community-based Board of Directors.

Addressing a Community Need: Transitional Housing for Women

In January 2006, Seattle's one-night count of the homeless estimated that 979 single women are homeless in King County on any given night. Since homeless women are especially vulnerable and often hide for safety, they are likely to be under-counted.  Many other low-income women live a paycheck away from poverty and are at risk for becoming homeless.

Seattle and King County lack sufficient transitional housing to help women journey successfully to a stable future. Transitional housing, which allows women to stay between six months and two years, is an important step in the path to independence for homeless women. There are approximately 107 transitional housing units available for single women in the Seattle area.  Most homeless feel safe only in housing reserved for women; this is especially true for women escaping domestic violence. 

Jubilee Women's Center, with a capacity to house 27 women, provides approximately one-quarter of Seattle's transitional housing for homeless women.  We have two facilities, Jubilee House and Joan Leonard House. 

Statistics and Demographics

Each year, Jubilee provides transitional housing and support services for approximately 60 women. Referrals come from homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, social service agencies, hospitals, churches, and the Community Crisis Line. Many women come to Jubilee physically or emotionally exhausted from living on the streets or from weeks spent in emergency shelters.  Poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, mental and physical illness, and substance abuse are among the factors that contribute to homelessness among the women we serve.  While most Jubilee residents work, they have low-paying or temporary jobs. In the words of a former Jubilee resident, “Our common denominator…is poverty.” Approximately 60% of Jubilee residents have a history of domestic violence.

Finally, Jubilee offers a community wide service by providing telephone or drop-in referral services for approximately 500 women each year. Jubilee also works collaboratively with other public and private organizations toward the goal of providing safe and affordable housing for all.

Funding Sources

Generous financial support from the community continues to make our work possible. Our funding sources include: donations from individuals and organizations, foundation and corporate grants, United Way designations, an annual Benefit Breakfast fundraiser, and rental income from our two facilities.

Jubilee has never received operational support from the government.