Housing Families First Receives One of the First Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grants
Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos donate $97.5 million to 24 nonprofits across the U.S. working on family homelessness.
Today, Housing Families First announced it has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund, which will help nearly 500 children and adults exit homelessness into permanent housing over the next four years.
Funding from this grant also will provide space and furnishings for an additional 160 family members to access emergency shelter over the same period. Critical to this expansion are shelter modifications and upgrades made possible by the grant.
“This investment from the Day 1 Families Fund will transform not only the lives of literally hundreds of families who will be able to quickly move out of shelters and the streets into permanent homes, but also the long-term effectiveness of homeless services for families throughout the Richmond region,” said Beth Vann-Turnbull, Executive Director of Housing Families First. “We could not be more honored, humbled, and excited about this amazing opportunity from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos.”
Housing Families First is one of 24 nonprofits to receive the first Day 1 Families Fund grants, totaling $97.5 million. Recipients from around the country include: Abode Services, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Community of Hope, Community Rebuilders, Crossroads Rhode Island, District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), Emerald Development & Economic Network (EDEN) Inc., FrontLine Service, Hamilton Families, Heartland Family Service, Housing Families First, JOIN, LA Family Housing (LAFH), Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), Primo Center for Women and Children, Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA), SEARCH Homeless Services, Simpson Housing Services, The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, UMOM New Day Centers and Urban Resource Institute (URI).
Founded by Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, the Bezos Day One Fund consists of two programs: the Day 1 Families Fund that provides grants to nonprofit organizations fighting homelessness, and the Day 1 Academies Fund that will fund and build a network of pre-schools in low-income communities across the country. The Day 1 Families Fund’s vision comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child should sleep outside. A small group of expert advisors provided input to the Bezos Day One Fund team to select these organizations. The Day 1 Families Fund will be awarding grants annually. Learn more at BezosDayOneFund.org.
Media Contact: Beth Vann-Turnbull
404.247.8607 (c); 804.236.5800 x23 (o)
