YWCA to cut jobs, close pool

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - The economy is forcing the local YWCA to make some changes.

It is laying off 4 full time and 28 part-time employees, as it closes its health promotion services.

Board President Grayce Lechtenberg said that includes the pool and floor exercise programs, like step aerobics and yoga. Lechtenberg said the pool, that opened nearly 20 years ago, was in need of repair.

Lechtenberg said a number of factors went into the board's decision.

"Membership is down, pool usage is down and donations are down by 18%," said Lechtenberg. "We had to decide what will be our  focus."

That focus will be on the Women's Cancer program and the Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention program.

"Domestic violence and women cancer victims have no where else to go. They come to us. We want to focus on that and continue to make those stronger programs."

"With the closing of the Health Promotion Services, we will concentrate our efforts with our other programs in order to meet the needs of our clients," said Sarah Johnston, Interim Executive Director. "We are committed to meet the mission of our YWCA which is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all."

The YWCA will also keep its youth programs, summer camps, and weekend basketball programs.

The pool will close and the fitness classes will end on November 27th. Space now used for fitness classes will be converted into office space.

The house across the street for staff from the domestic violence and women's cancer programs, at 604 N. Sixth Street, will close. 

"That building is almost 150 years old," said Lechtenberg. "It was a wonderful mansion in its day. It is struggling to be adequate office space for our staff, so we will be moving those staff into the 605 building."

With the changes, four jobs will be eliminated. "The program director and her assistant in Health Promotion Services and two full time desk staff will be cut." In addition, the YWCA cut 28 part-time staff. Those jobs included fitness instructors and life guards.

The YWCA has sent letters to all of its users to inform them of the changes.

The board has also organized a town hall meeting to answer questions.

It's scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, in the Lilly Room at Ivy Tech Community College.

"The YWCA Great Lakes Alliance supports local associations in building their capacity to do YWCA mission work in their communities," stated Becky Hines, YWCA Regional Executive Director. "This often involves taking a hard look at current programming and evaluating programs from a standpoint of mission fit, competitive enironment,a nd access to resources (including revenue) to be able to provide a quality program. I feel the board at the YWCA Greater Lafayette has done their due diligence and made the tough decisions with the future of the YWCA in mind."

Members that currently use the aquatic and fitness services have received advance notice of the closing and the YWCA will meet any contractual agreement currently in place with these members. "We realize this is an inconvenience for members, but we have found that other organizations or businesses throughout Greater Lafayette can offer the same or like programs to meet their needs," stated Lechtenberg.