Jeff Bezos announces 40 grants totaling $123 millions to combat homelessness
Jeff Bezos has announced $123 million in grants to combat homelessness. The tech billionaire’s Amazon.com Foundation is funding 40 organizations across the country to provide permanent housing, employment support and other services to people experiencing homelessness. The first round of grants last fall went to 24 organizations, including Mary’s Place in Seattle, which operates homeless shelters; FareStart, which provides job training and placement for people experiencing homelessness; and Homefront, a nonprofit that helps families whose homes have been foreclosed on or who have fallen behind on their bills.
Introduction
“Over time I’ve learned that it takes an army of good Samaritans working together for decades — not just one company or organization doing something special,” said Bezos at an event announcing the grant recipients Thursday morning at his home office in Medina County, Ohio.”
Bezos Day One Families Fund is giving out 40 grants, totaling $123 million.
The Bezos Day One Families Fund is a philanthropic organization founded by Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie. The fund, which was launched in December 2018, has distributed 40 grants totaling $123 million to organizations that are working to combat homelessness in the United States.
The grants will go toward providing housing for low-income families and single mothers; helping veterans transition back into civilian life; providing education workshops for young people who have been impacted by homelessness; helping those who live on the streets get access to health care services (including mental health counseling); supporting services like job training or substance abuse prevention.
The organization’s first round of grants last fall went to 24 organizations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The organization’s first round of grants last fall went to 24 organizations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The money would be used for projects ranging from building permanent housing for homeless families and veterans, to creating new models for community building, or helping people access services like food banks or daycare centers. In total, these grants totaled $5 million each:
$4 million was given to 18 projects located in California; Arizona; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Massachusetts (including Cape Cod); Maryland/Washington D.C./Virginia/West Virginia/Alabama/California (excluding Los Angeles); New York City (including Brooklyn); Ohio State University’s Homelessness Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University – Cleveland Campus; Seattle Community College Northwest Campus – Woodland Park Campus
$1 million was given to four organizations in Chicago: A Home Among Us Foundation Inc., Ending Homelessness Through Housing Services Inc., Trinity House Chicago & Upper West Side Project Inc., Urban Ministries International Inc
Mary’s Place, which operates homeless shelters in Seattle and elsewhere, received a $5 million grant from the Bezos fund.
Mary’s Place provides job training and placement for people experiencing homelessness and other barriers to employment. The organization also helps them find stable housing or other sources of income so they can live independently again.
Another grant will support FareStart, a Seattle-based nonprofit that provides job training and placement for people experiencing homelessness and other barriers to employment.
Another grant will support FareStart, a Seattle-based nonprofit that provides job training and placement for people experiencing homelessness and other barriers to employment.
Founded in 1989 by Tom Douglas, an award-winning restaurateur and philanthropist, FareStart has helped thousands of low-income individuals find jobs through its day programs at four locations across Seattle.
Conclusion
We hope that this $123 million will help make a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness. With so many people having to do without, any funds that can be provided are vital in helping them get back on their feet.
