MONROE, La. – (November 22, 2022): The Wellspring, today announced that it has received a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund—the largest private gift in the organization’s history. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to leading organizations on the frontlines that are employing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families move from unsheltered homelessness and shelters to permanent housing with the services they require to achieve stability.
“I am both humbled and honored that the work of The Wellspring has been recognized at the national level in such a significant way and that we have been selected for a Day 1 Families Fund award,” said Caroline Cascio, president and CEO of The Wellspring. “Homelessness in Northeast Louisiana looks very different than it does in other parts of the country, with families making up the majority of those facing homelessness, and children under the age of 18 comprising half of our homeless population. The need for comprehensive services that will not only bring families indoors, but also address the root causes of their homelessness and foster long-term self-sufficiency, is critical. The Wellspring is proud to have the Day 1 Families Fund support us in this effort.”
This one-time grant will help The Wellspring in its work to support families as they reel from skyrocketing rent costs, limited services and insufficient incomes. The Wellspring plans to use the grant funds to address the tremendous community need for sheltering families experiencing homelessness as well as the mental health needs of client populations served by the agency. The Wellspring will also use this as an opportunity to invest in the workforce capacity, infrastructure and resource development essential to sustaining these direct services in Northeast Louisiana.
The Wellspring was selected as a Day 1 Families Fund grant recipient by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision. National advisors brought expertise on housing justice, advancing racial equity and helping programs employ resources effectively to assist families out of homelessness.
Over the past five years, the Day 1 Families Fund has provided 170 grants totaling more than $520 million to organizations around the country working to combat homelessness and help families gain housing support and stability.
Sarah Johnson, executive director of the HOME Coalition, the Continuum of Care serving Northeast Louisiana, said, “This announcement and gift signal a safer today and brighter tomorrow for tens of thousands of Northeast Louisiana children and families. Until today, our community has been unable to achieve our most fundamental duty—keeping all our children safe and housed. Starting now, that no longer needs to be the case.”
“My case worker is more than just a person that sits behind a desk. He shows sincere care and concern for me and my family. That is what people need to know—that there are sincere people to help in their time of need,” said a former participant housed by The Wellspring.
The Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two 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. 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.