The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust has awarded a $17,500 grant to the Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children to be used for its Homeless to Independence initiatives.
The grant will be used by Friends Association’s case managers working with each family to build on its existing strengths and help it identify education and services that it needs to successfully transition from poverty/homelessness to permanent housing and financial self-sufficiency.
“Housing instability is a very traumatic experience for families,” said Brian Jones, W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Grants Administrator. “For over 40 years, The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust has invested in a variety of housing initiatives with the hope that families in need can enjoy a safe, peaceful, and permanent place to call home. Although this goal is straightforward, the path to permanency often involves many concurrent challenges.”
Families are referred to Friends Association through ConnectPoints. and a case manager immediately begins working with families to assist them in accessing emergency benefits, housing coordination, and employment assistance. The $17,500 grant will be used for direct expenses in support of these programs: Emergency Family Shelter, Homeless Prevention, and Outreach Case Management.
“In 2017, 45 percent of those served in Emergency Shelters in the county were members of a family; this includes over 200 children, half of whom were under the age of four,” said Jennifer Lopez, Friends Association’s Executive Director. “We are grateful for the support from The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust that help us to continue to grow to meet the needs of our community.”
Said Jones: “The Trust is pleased to support Friends Association, given its thoughtful and relational approach to helping hundreds of families navigate the obstacles, improve income, keep their children in school, and complete the steps necessary to secure and sustain permanent housing.”
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