Women’s History Month at WLP

Women's History Month is dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the contributions and achievements of women throughout history.

The month provides an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of women in various fields, including science, literature, politics, art, and many others. It also aims to raise awareness about the challenges and issues that women have faced and continue to face.

Women's History Month has its roots in International Women's Day, which has been observed since the early 20th century. In the United States, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance in 1987 when the National Women's History Project petitioned for the designation. Since then, Women's History Month has been recognized and celebrated globally, with events, activities, and initiatives organized to honor the achievements and contributions of women.

We are proud to be celebrating the rich history of Women’s Lunch Place, which was founded in 1982 and has benefitted from the leadership of women making history ever since.

Among those living in poverty, 70% are women and children yet only 1.6% of philanthropic giving supports women and girl causes.

A large body of research has documented the necessity of gender-specific housing and services for women who have experienced trauma, homelessness, and substance use disorders.

Taken together, these studies underscore the urgency of moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach where housing and supportive services largely ignore gender.

The research suggests a clear best practice––developing tailored housing solutions and recovery programming that successfully address the unique needs of women who have histories of discrimination, abuse, and violence.

Women’s Lunch Place is uniquely positioned to address the issues of women experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty.

We have no intake requirements for entry, so vulnerable women with trauma histories and severe mental health challenges who feel threatened disclosing personal information feel safe to access our nutritious meals and essential supplies and services.

Our gender-specific environment allows women to take respite from threats of violence and abuse, and our programming is specifically designed to address women’s issues, including a variety of programs built by and for women of color.

Our talented team of staff, volunteers, and partners assist our guests with patience, compassion, and expertise in a way that restores their dignity.

Women are respected at Women’s Lunch Place––we elevate our guests’ voices and provide services that improve their well-being. As they begin to build hope and contemplate a better life, our guests benefit from our comprehensive suite of programs to become stable and self-sufficient.

Thanks to the support of our donors, we assisted approximately 2,000 women last year. We served over 113,000 healthy meals, conducted over 7,000 individual meetings, and housed or preserved the tenancy of 250 women. Through it all, our motto remains: “Dignity Is Everything.”