Olympia YWCA faces closure after decline in funding

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Olympia YWCA faces possible closure after experiencing significant losses in funding.

”It's extremely heartbreaking," said Executive Director Alli Ewing.

Ewing, now the organization's sole paid staff member after laying off five employees this year, is pleading for support from the public amid declining funding. She said the YWCA lost grant funding along with state and federal budget cuts, as demand for services continues to increase.

"This is a space people have relied on for generations," Ewing said, describing the facility that houses Kathleen's Closet, where visitors can obtain free clothing for job interviews or social events, along with meeting spaces for counseling sessions and courses designed for women and children in need.

Board member Malika Lamont empha