A call comes in asking for someone. This person is asking for a name. Maybe they also want to know where this person lives. Regardless, there is only one answer they will get:

 

“We cannot confirm or deny if they’re staying here, or if they’ve ever been a client here.”

 

That is the line workers at the Chadwick Residence frequently find themselves saying.

 

Inside the red-brick home that blends in with the other residential homes on the street is a transitional women’s shelter that houses up to 17 women and ten children. There is no outside sign that says “Chadwick Residence.” Its doors are locked 24/7. Those living there have to ring the doorbell to get back in. The Chadwick Residence hides in plain sight.

 

Established in 1986, the Chadwick Residence has worked for over three decades to support women at risk in Syracuse. The nonprofit organization offers multiple social service programs that assist women and women with children with housing, mental health consultation, employment skills development and more. “Too many to name,” Executive Director Heather Hunter said.

 

The main work the Chadwick Residence does is in their two residential programs: transitional housing and Permanent Housing Assistance. In their transitional housing, women are accepted on a referral basis. They live in a shared space at the Chadwick Residence with other women and children for up to two years, according to Hunter. In their Permanent Housing Assistance (PHA) program, staff guide women ready for independent living through the house-hunting process. Training, along with frequent checkups, are provided to develop the opportunity for independent living, according to their website.

 

The Chadwick Residence is addressing a growing issue in Syracuse homelessness, specifically in women. According to the 2024 Point in Time Count, 536 women were counted to be without housing in Syracuse. According to the 2023 Count, there were 368.

 

According to Hunter, when the Chadwick Residence was first established, they primarily focused on women who were victims of domestic abuse. Now they have expanded support to any “woman at risk.”

 

A “woman at risk,” according to Hunter, is “any woman that is homeless, vulnerable or has gone through some type of traumatic situation.”

 

Hunter said that many of these women endured domestic abuse situations in their past homes. Others struggle with mental health, addiction, pregnancy or lack of child support. Overall, what all of these women have in common, according to Hunter, is the need and capability of redirecting their lives.

 

“A lot of these women are part of a vulnerable population, so regaining the power of independence encourages them,” Transitional Housing Case Manager Kaylee Nieves said. “Having something stable and consistent in their life helps them regain power back from what they've experienced.”

 

Much of this is helped to be achieved by the close relationships Chadwick Residence staff develop with their clients.

 

“I’m kind of their point of contact for resources. And, actually, a little more,” Nieves said, followed by a giggle.

 

That “more” may include reading through the program packet with clients to help them understand it. A requirement of the transitional housing program is that clients identify personal goals to develop a “Service Plan.” This becomes the crux of their stay at the Chadwick Residence to ensure that they are productively working on themselves, according to Nieves who meets with each client weekly.

 

Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager Mindy Flaherty does more than just searching for permanent home options. She may drive a client to the grocery store or doctor’s appointment.

 

“It could be anything,” Flaherty said. “I just drove a client to her appointment with her lawyer because she's applying for Social Security Disability Insurance.”

 

There are also activities such as crafts and holiday meals frequently planned to develop stronger community ties between staff and clients, and amongst the clients themselves.

 

“They look out for each other,” Nieves said. “They become friends and find a community within each other. They will go grocery shopping together or one will go grocery shopping for the other.”

 

Per statistics from their website, Chadwick Residence assisted almost 400 women and children between 2010 and 2018. 50% suffered with mental health issues, 54% were victims of domestic violence, 20% struggled with substance abuse.

 

Although, their success is something unable to be proven by numbers, according to Hunter, and why they are not focused on counting their data. Because programs are built on a case-by-case basis, success looks different for every client.

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In just the eight months Nieves has worked at the Chadwick Residence, she has had “a lot” of move outs from their transitional housing, which is an accomplishment. Success can be a client staying for two months or two years. It can also be a signed apartment lease or a thank-you call to staff years later.

 

“That’s what we’re here for,” Hunter said. “They come to us 24/7.”

 

Chadwick Residence receives support from other nonprofit organizations in the Syracuse area. According to Hunter, many of their clients will be housed in the homes built by A Tiny Home for Good. Other women’s shelters such as Vera House, Christopher Community and Joseph’s House for Women help with donations and referrals. There is a network dedicated to promoting support for women in Syracuse.

 

However, it is not easy to support such a vulnerable population, according to Nieves. Issues such as eviction, triggers from trauma, addiction relapses or the breaking of rules may come up. “Everybody comes from a different situation,” Nieves said. “There is no one size fits all. That’s just not how this works.”

 

Because there is no “set program” and everything is assessed on a case-by-case basis, it can make client work tricky. “We do as much as we can,” Nieves said. “We always try to show them the outcomes that are possible, but sometimes it really just depends.”

 

Most women are also fleeing from dangerous situations. Hence the locked doors, the inability to confirm the status of a client’s stay– these strict protocols are to protect the safety of the women. When asked if it was possible to speak with any current or former clients, Hunter said that clients remained confidential.

 

Finances are entirely funded by grants and donations, according to Hunter. Budget is tight, said Hunter, and they are constantly raising money. “It’s tough,” Hunter said. “We want to get our name out there to let people know that to help these women succeed, funding is needed.”

 

However, the Chadwick Residence and Syracuse community do what they can to support these women. Grocery stores will chip in food donations every week. If space runs out in the transitional house, women will be referred to the Rescue Mission or Salvation Army, according to Hunter. Friends, family and coworkers will be reached out to help with donations.

 

While the work they do may feel “harsh” and “tricky,” said Nieves, it is integral work that obtains success for many women at risk, one step at a time, one case at a time.