Day 1 Families Fund grants $105.9 million to 42 nonprofits helping families gain housing support and stability

Atlanta, GA — HOPE Atlanta, one of the metro area’s most established nonprofits dedicated to addressing and preventing homelessness, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families.

 

“We’re humbled to be among the 2020 awardees and we extend our deepest thanks to the Day 1 Families Fund,” said Jeff Smythe, HOPE Atlanta CEO. “As more and more families face economic hardship and housing insecurity amid COVID-19 and across our 28-county service area, this gift could not have come at a more critical time.”

 

This one-time grant, awarded to organizations doing meaningful work to connect families with shelter and support, will allow HOPE Atlanta to help an additional 1,500 families experiencing homelessness with rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, reunification, emergency lodging, case management and other supportive services.

 

HOPE Atlanta is one of 42 nonprofits across the U.S. to receive the third annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, as part of a continuing commitment by the Day 1 Families Fund to help end homelessness for families. The Day 1 Families Fund issued a total of $105.9 million in grants this year. To select these organizations, the fund worked with an advisory board of homelessness advocates and leaders whose expertise spans housing justice, racial equity, direct services, homelessness policy, equity for Native American communities and anti-poverty work. This year, the grant recipients from around the country include: Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness; The Cathedral Center, Inc.; Catholic Charities of Acadiana; Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Inc.; Congreso de Latinos Unidos; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Denver Indian Family Resource Center; East Los Angeles Women’s Center; East Oakland Community Project; Facing Forward to End Homelessness; Families Together; Family Life Center; Friendship Place; HELP of Southern Nevada; The Homeless Families Foundation; Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System; HOPE Atlanta; House of Ruth; Housing Matters; Housing Up; Kahumana; MAHUBEOTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Metro Denver Homeless Initiative; MUST Ministries; The National Center for Children and Families; Native American Youth and Family Center; North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness; One80 Place; Poverello House; Rainbow Services; Refugee Women’s Alliance; Safe Haven Family Shelter; Samaritan House; Solid Ground; St. Vincent de Paul CARES; Su Casa – Ending Domestic Violence; The Salvation Army Austin Area Command; Time for Change Foundation; United American Indian Involvement, Inc.; and WestCare California.

 

“No family should face homelessness in this country, even for one day — especially amid a pandemic,” said Smythe. “We’re so thankful that the Day 1 Families Fund has recognized the troubling trend of family homelessness across the U.S. and is supporting those of us on the front lines.”

 

The Bezos Day One Fund was launched in 2018 with a commitment of $2 billion and a focus on two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help homeless families, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/ Day1FamiliesFund.

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HOPE Atlanta, founded in 1900, is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing and fighting homelessness. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive approach to address homelessness and provide solutions that promote lifelong stability.

Atlanta, GA — The staff of HOPE Atlanta, one of Atlanta’s oldest nonprofit organizations serving people experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness, had quite the surprise waiting when they returned to work after Labor Day: a $500,000 check from an anonymous donor through a fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

 

“This gift is nothing short of transformational. It took our breath away,” said HOPE Atlanta CEO Jeff Smythe. “The need is always greater than our available funds and resources, and this generous donation will allow us to serve so many more people who desperately need our help right now.”

 

And it comes at a time when low-income and marginalized communities, disproportionately affected by COVID-19, need assistance more than ever. HOPE Atlanta has experienced a 300% increase in calls for help since the start of the pandemic and is bracing for an avalanche of evictions when moratoriums end.

 

The donor requested that the funds be used to support rapid re-housing, beds for the MARTA partnership program, case management, rental assistance and eviction prevention.

 

HOPE Atlanta and partner organizations have played a key public health role during the pandemic with programs (like “Healthy Hotels”) to move unsheltered people to safety and curb the virus’s spread.

 

“If you’re reading this, friend, I want you to know just how much your gift will benefit our clients and community,” said Smythe. “You’re literally helping to save peoples’ lives and restore their livelihoods. On behalf of all of our staff and those who rely on our services: thank you.”

 

HOPE Atlanta (formerly Travelers Aid), founded in 1900, is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing and fighting homelessness. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive approach to address homelessness and provide solutions that promote lifelong stability.

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If you would like to learn more about Atlanta’s homelessness issue and hear inspiring “stories of HOPE” from the front lines of COVID-19, you’re invited to join HOPE Atlanta for the virtual Heroes for HOPE event on October 15th. Registration is free and open to the public.