UWAB’s earliest major project was a Working Women’s Hostel constructed in 1978 in Sampangiramnagar in central Bangalore. The Hostel building was constructed by UWAB and funded primarily through a grant from the Government of India. The goal of the Working Women’s Hostel is to provide safe and affordable residential facilities for young women who come to Bangalore city from nearby semi-urban and rural areas. Over the last 30 years, the hostel has been managed by UWAB members on a volunteer basis through the UWAB’s Managing Committee. Since 1978, over 2000 women have benefited from the safe, affordable and comfortable housing provided by the Hostel. Because of the residential facilities provided by the Hostel, they have been able to pursue higher studies or jobs in Bangalore, availing of opportunities that would not be available to them in their hometowns. The hostel can house 75 residents comfortably. Accommodation ranges from dormitory style rooms (18 residents to a room), to rooms with two, three, four and five residents. The hostel continues is run as per government regulations. As per government rules, in order to be eligible to stay in the Hostel, the monthly income of residents cannot exceed Rs. 15,000 ($375 at US$1=Indian Rupees 40). The average monthly income of Hostel residents is approximately Rs. 8,000 ($200 at US$1=Indian Rupees 40). The monthly charges for a resident are approximately Rs. 2500 including all meals($37.50 at US$1=Indian Rupees 40). The residents are in the age group of 20 to 40 years and can stay in the Hostel for a maximum of five years, to make way for newcomers to Bangalore. Most women leave to set up their own homes or to seek employment elsewhere.