Program

We provide direct support and advocacy through:

Emergency Assistance

When a family first arrives to our shelter or community, we first assess their current needs, strengths, and potential to build independence.

We typically provide an initial amount of food, clothes, medicine, bus passes, and diapers as needed, meant to support families through their first two weeks after seeking support.

Microloans and Grants

At some point, a small loan is more transformative in helping a family build independence than continuing to provide transitional housing. Therefore, we provide loans of $1000 or less to families that have been in our community for at least a month or more when it allows them to more quickly find their own housing. Loans are provided for rental deposits and car downpayments. We give loans without interest and with a 5-6 month maximum repayment window.

We also at times provide Resiliency Grants for families that have been in our community but are struggling through difficult, unpredictable challenges. These grants are typically $300 or less to help families make be able to stay in housing and work towards achieving a more resilient stability.

Transitional Housing

We assess a family’s housing needs when we receive them. We generally begin by offering two weeks of housing support but expect to support families on average for 6-8 weeks.

We communicate with families up front that the expectation is that they will be able to find their own shelter within that span of time.

Worker's Cooperative

We are committed to finding creative ways to help families that do not have work permits to be able to earn a living. We are setting up a program to offer small loans for entrepreneurship as well as resources for starting a worker’s collective.

Immigrants who work without work permits are extremely vulnerable to exploitation such as being fired without cause, having their pay docked, receiving no pay, or having to work extremely long hours or not being given enough hours. The alternative to not work and await a valid work permit isn't feasible for many families. Creating options for a fair workplace and empowerment through entrepreneurship provides a stronger pathway to independence.

Since we began our work in April of 2023....

We have provided assistance for 223 individuals (136 adults and 87 children). Of the children that we have helped, 68% were under the age of 10.

We have helped settle 41 families in our community. Of the people who we have received or supported, 65% are still active in our community.

Received individuals from 12 different countries, with 75% coming from Venezuela.

34% of the families we helped were single parent families. 22% were coming out of the hospital or had a child with significant special needs. 12% were pregnant mothers.

76% of the families that we supported who were unsheltered were able to find their own housing within 8 weeks or less.

68% of the families that we supported were able to achieve a resilient stability (where an unexpected expense doesn't cause a crisis) within one year of their arrival.