COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) – A Northern Kentucky homeless shelter announced Wednesday that it won a grant from Jeff Bezos’ charitable organization.
Welcome House, a Covington-based nonprofit and shelter, announced on Nov. 20 that it won a $1.25 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.
This comes after the Safer Kentucky Act took effect in July, which, among other things, bans camping on streets, sidewalks, paths, or public areas that aren’t designated campsites.
“This grant is a game-changing investment that empowers us to push boundaries in how homelessness is addressed, particularly in Kentucky’s under-served areas,” CEO of Welcome House, Danielle Amrine says.
The funds will allow Welcome House to expand its outreach, enhance housing assistance, and address barriers that prevent rural families from securing stable homes.
“Families experiencing homelessness, especially those in rural areas, are an often-overlooked aspect of the homelessness issue,” Chairman of the Welcome House Board of Directors, Jason Spauling explains.
The organization serves more than 3,000 people every year in 40 predominately rural counties, decreasing homelessness in Kentucky by 46% in six years from 2017 to 2023.
This grant builds on another $1.25 million Day 1 Families Fund grant Welcome House received in 2019.
With its first Day 1 Families Fund grant, Welcome House built a 20,000-square-foot facility, which offers the only homeless shelter for families in Northern Kentucky.
The new Homeless Services Center opened in 2023 and doubled Welcome House’s capacity.
See full article here: https://www.fox19.com/2024/11/20/nky-homeless-shelter-receives-large-grant-amazon-founder/
