SPOKANE, Wash. – (November 20, 2024): Family Promise of Spokane, a nonprofit organization that works to equip families and communities to end the cycle of homelessness, today announced that it has received a $2.5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This is the seventh year that the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded grants to organizations across the country that are leading the way to move the needle on family homelessness with the goal of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.
"Receiving this $2.5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund is transformative for Family Promise of Spokane and, more importantly, for the families we serve,” said Joe Ader, CEO of Family Promise of Spokane. “This award empowers us to expand our innovative housing solutions, offering families a secure pathway back into stable homes. With these resources, we can deepen our impact and drive lasting change, helping break the cycle of homelessness for countless children and parents in Spokane.”
Family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, and families now represent more than 28 percent of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2024 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. With its one-time Day 1 Families Fund grant, Family Promise of Spokane will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness in Spokane County.
Family Promise of Spokane plans to use its funds to end homelessness in Spokane County by utilizing flexible funding to reach families where they are, enhance their processes to serve more families and create new models to match the growing need of families in the community.
A group of national advisors who are leading experts on family homelessness and its solutions, including the intersection of homelessness and housing policy, child welfare, racial equity and service provision, identified the organizations selected for funding.
“Not only will this investment secure the future for families in our community, but it speaks to the possibility that, with the right investments, ending homelessness for families is possible. Let this be an invitation to everyone to believe and work towards this possibility,” said Emma Hughes, COO of Family Promise of Spokane.
Since 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants are uniquely flexible and enable organizations to support families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—to regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being.
This year, the Fund issued a total of $110.5 million in grants to 40 organizations, and for the first time, nonprofits in Kansas and New Jersey are among the awardees. The other organization receiving a grant in Washington is Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The full list of awardees is available at bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund.
About Family Promise of Spokane
Family Promise of Spokane envisions a future where no child experiences homelessness in Spokane County. Serving adults caring for children or pregnant, Family Promise helps families get housing and keep housing through robust programs that provide emergency shelter for families and work with families for two years after getting housing to stabilize their futures.
About the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund
Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.
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