WARREN, Ohio - A pillar in the Warren community will reach a major milestone this year. The YWCA is preparing to celebrate it's centennial anniversary with expansion plans on the horizon.

With 100 years and counting, the YWCA set off its mission to support women and children back in December of 1916.

"A group of ladies came together with the idea and the goal to help other young ladies, especially those that did not speak english at that time," Kenya Roberts-Howard said, executive director of the organization. 

After decades of providing support, the organization will begin offering new services this month with a new tech lab, which will offer access to computers and ipads. Meanwhile, a new health center for men and women is under construction. The health center will take over the space that used to house the YWCA's smaller pool. 

The YWCA closed its shutdown Olympic-sized pool four years ago to make better use of the space with housing for women who face domestic violence, homelessness or mental illness.

"I have not run across any of the women who aren't appreciative," Roberts-Howard said. "A lot of them volunteer for our programs, family nights, things of that nature, so they try to help us as much as we work to help them." 

Roberts-Howard tells 21 News is now in the process of looking for grants to cover the cost of a second housing addition.

"We're definitely looking at another permanent supportive housing project, just because the need for long term housing, quality long term housing and care for women and children," she said.

Work is now underway to obtain grants to finance the housing addition. Roberts-Howard says eleven of the 12 units are typically full at all times.