SYRACUSE -- A national organization is fighting for women here in Central New York. The YWCA has announced a new advocacy agenda for the next year.

When Cynthia Horton came to the YWCA's Woman's Residence Program she was homeless and had nowhere to turn. "I used to live in the streets had nowhere to live nowhere to eat, now I'm grateful because I can actually buy food, I can fix my own food and I have a place to stay," she says.

Horton is not alone. Joan Durant, Executive Director for the Syracuse YWCA, says the economy has left many women struggling to make ends meet. "We see many people that need two jobs to make it through and just barely get above the poverty level," she says.

According to the YWCA almost 15% of all women in New York State live below the poverty line. Many of those living in poverty are single moms. Those women who do work earn, on average, only $0.83 on the dollar compared to men doing the same job.

The YWCA in Syracuse is teaming up with more than 30 other chapters across the Northeast to help women get the resources they need to succeed. Durant says YWCA plans to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the issue this election year. "We hope to unite the 32 YWCA's across the Northeast and really make a statement at our state levels, our local levels our federal level," she says.

For more information on the agenda, click here.