Filler Image Example

Our History

A legacy of service

In the early days, women who migrated to the area for employment turned to Waypoint for help. Over the first 50 years, Waypoint’s focus evolved from fancywork, dress-making, and music to physical fitness, self-improvement, and community outreach.

In the 1970s, Waypoint responded to the community’s increasing demand for critical services by beginning to address domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness. A child care center was also created at that time to support working families.

As these initiatives gained momentum, the Madge Phillips Center Shelter was built for homeless women and their children in 1995. 2001 marked the year when Waypoint disaffiliated from the YWCA to solely concentrate on critical needs in the community.

Today, Waypoint upholds its tradition of improving lives through the following programs:

These programs, serving over 20,000 people in total each year, embody national best-practices, research-based approaches, and decades of experience keeping a finger on the pulse of the community.

Watch Waypoint's 125th Anniversary Video


The Timeline

How Waypoint’s history unfolded over the decades

1894

YWCA chapter in Cedar Rapids was formed from the Bohemian Young Women's Union; the organization focused its efforts on the feminine disciplines of vocal music, dressmaking, and fancy work, and a lodging house at 3rd Ave and 6th St was acquired to help with housing young women migrating to the city for employment

1911

Current building at 318 5th St SE was constructed

1910-1950s

YWCA supported women with Bible study, leadership, self-improvement, physical fitness, socials, and community outreach projects and supported unemployed women with clothing, food, bedding, and money for housing

1962

Work began on the new addition, which now houses KidsPoint Downtown Learning Center & Preschool

1960-1970

Community swimming classes, sex education classes, and drop-in youth program for teens start being offered

1970-1980

Recreational programs for special needs children are offered and fitness programs remodeled and expanded; residential program opened at Montrose Hotel in downtown Cedar Rapids, eventually evolving into the Domestic Violence Program and shelter; began Sexual Assault Program and opened the Women’s Emergency Shelter

1980-1990

Domestic Violence shelter opens in undisclosed location; Madge Phillips Resource Center opens for homeless women during the day; Child Care and Before & After School Care begins; in 1985, all fitness programs halted

1990-2000

Junior League of Cedar Rapids helps fundraise to build a 24/7 shelter for homeless women and children called the Madge Phillips Center Shelter; child care center renamed to Uptown Kids; RiverRidge Kids opens 1999 in partnership with AEGON to provide child care to their employees

2001

Disaffiliates from the YWCA and changes name to Waypoint Services for Women, Children, and Families; men were invited to be members of the Board of Directors for the first time

2008

Waypoint sustained over $1.2M in damages during the flood of 2008; opens ParkRidge Kids in partnership with AEGON to provide child care to their employees; Waypoint Kids, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Waypoint Services, is estabilished to provide child care management of the three child care centers

2009

The Domestic Violence Shelter closed and all shelter services were consolidated to the Madge Phillips Center Shelter; Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Programs begin

2012

1911 Building (located at 318 5th St SE) is renovated to better meet the needs of programs and clients; begin piloting Centralized Intake for emergency shelters to simplify access to shelter openings for those who are homeless or experiencing a housing crisis

2013

Waypoint becomes the comprehensive service provider for 7 counties in Northeast Iowa for Domestic Violence Victim Services: Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Linn and Jones Counties; ParkRidge Kids and RiverRidge Kids Child Care Centers open up to the general public

2016

Waypoint Child Care rebrands to KidsPoint Child Care to create unity and consistency; locations now known as KidsPoint Downtown, KidsPoint North, and KidsPoint South

2017

Daytime Resource Program closes and Waypoint becomes the lead agency for Coordinated Entry in Linn, Benton, and Jones Counties, conducting weekly coordinated meetings with housing programs to get households impacted by homelessness into housing

2018

KidsPoint North and KidsPoint South Learning Center and Preschools consolidate to form KidsPoint C Street

2020

Waypoint completed $3.2M capital campaign to upgrade security and enhance entrances at 1911 Building and remodel KidsPoint Downtown Learning Center & Preschool; construction begins in April; Waypoint also took over management of the Survivors' Program in August

We're Here for you

For over 125 years, Waypoint has existed as a vital community resource for individuals in need.

Domestic Violence Resource & Support Line

800.208.0388

Housing Services

319.366.7999 -or- 1.833.739.0065

KidsPoint Child Care

319.365.1636

Survivors' Program

319.365.1458

Contact Waypoint

318 5th St SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

319.365.1458

Copyright © 2024 Waypoint. All Rights Reserved. Web Application by Informatics, Inc 172.26.9.156