Clik here to view.
Back in November 2019, Family Gateway received $2.75M from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. A few months later the pandemic struck, sending North Texas non-profits scrambling to provide services. Thanks to the Day 1 Families Fund grant, Family Gateway’s staff shifted from a “first-come, first-served” model to focusing on helping families find alternative solutions, a process known as diversion.
As a result of that grant, Family Gateway was able to help approximately 2,200 families avoid a shelter experience with its diversion program. And more than 80% of families diverted by Family Gateway do not need additional shelter services, as they’re pointed to safe alternatives that may include mediation with family, friends or property owner to help support housing and/or avoid shelter stays.
According to Family Gateway President/CEO Ellen Magnis, “The generous gift received in 2019 helped us expand our diversion practice, transforming the way we serve families with children experiencing homelessness. Thanks to support from the Day 1 Families Fund, we now serve 1,800 families annually as compared to 400 per year with our prior model.”
Clik here to view.
Following that success, today it was announced that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have just provided a $2.5M grant that will used to “build” on their initial 2019 grant.
Ellen explained, “With housing costs rising and eviction rates increasing, we’re seeing more and more families in need of assistance. We are grateful for this additional investment from Day 1 Families Fund during this critical time for families in our community.”
According to the National Alliance To End Homelessness 2024 report, family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, with families now representing more than 28% of the country’s homeless population.
Thanks to this additional grant, Family Gateway has “a goal to re-house families within 60-90 days of them becoming homeless and/or entering a shelter.”
Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund’s commitment of $2B focuses on two key areas: funding existing non-profits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, non-profit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. Since its establishment, Day 1 Families Fund has “awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750M” throughout the country, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. This year’s $110.5M grants benefited 40 organizations throughout the country, with Family Gateway being the only one in North Texas.
The flexibility of the grants enables organizations to support families experiencing homelessness — including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters — to regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being.
Ellen addressed the Day 1 Families Fund’s flexibility, saying, “The flexibility of the Day 1 Families Fund grant is critical, because we can use the funds in the ways we know will help families the most. It helps us ensure that we’re never turning a family away and can assist every family who needs it.”
* Graphic provided by Family Gateway
The post JUST IN: Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund Provides a $2.5M Grant For Family Gateway To Assist Homeless Families appeared first on My Sweet Charity.
