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Every year, Waypoint works to spread awareness about the importance of healthy relationships to ensure that everyone, both men and women, young and old, know that they are enough and are deserving of love and support. Waypoint hosts the Gentleman Campaign© every year in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Did you know that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month? During this time, Waypoint hosts the Gentleman Campaign© in an effort to raise funds and awareness to end domestic violence. The campaign was established in 2013 in an effort to recognize the “true gentlemen” in our communities who are willing to stand up against violence.

2020 has been a rough year for everyone, including Waypoint. Despite the chaos that the beginning of the year brought, Waypoint is grateful for the dedicated staff, volunteers, and community members who made the following accomplishments possible in fiscal year 2020. Waypoint is hopeful that this momentum will continue throughout the remainder of 2020 so those in crisis can continue to receive they support they need to move forward.

So many factors make it difficult for survivors to move forward from an abusive relationship, but Waypoint’s Victim Advocates are available to provide advocacy, resources, and support to allow each individual to learn and grow in ways that best fit their unique situation and needs.

The Survivors’ Program, previously administered by Horizons, has transitioned to Waypoint as of August 10, 2020.

Many domestic violence victim service providers are expecting an increase in need for their services as COVID-19 continues to impact communities across the country. As businesses closed and stay-at-home orders were put in place, survivors of domestic violence faced a heightened risk of abuse if they were at home with their abuser and increased financial difficulties as many people were forced to apply for unemployment.

The COVID-19 health crisis has had a devastating impact across the country, including right here in our own community. As businesses closed and shelter-in-place orders were put into place, individuals and families struggled to adjust to the new normal. The individuals and families Waypoint serves were hit even harder as they worked to navigate homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty now intensified by unemployment, health concerns, and social isolation. Please read below to see how COVID-19 affected our programs.

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, which is truly a time to celebrate all the incredible individuals and groups who make an impact at Waypoint. Especially during times of crisis and uncertainty, which we are all facing now due to the spread of COVID-19 across the country and in our community, volunteers are now more important than ever and even more deserving of recognition. While we can’t recognize our volunteers in a traditional way, we are doing our best to send our love and support virtually as we patiently wait for the day that we can all be together again.

Scholarships were provided to three women utilizing Waypoint's programs to support their career development, child care tuition, and basic needs with funds from the 2020 Tribute Honor Society.

Waypoint spent 2019 celebrating 125 years of working to improve the lives of those in need in the community. With a long history beginning as the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Waypoint continues to focus on providing life-changing resources and services to community members experiencing poverty, homelessness, and domestic violence. While the mission of “inspiring people to move forward” has remained a constant, the organization itself has changed drastically over the years.