Current Grant Recipients
CAPACITY GRANT
Woodley House, founded in 1958, provides innovative, supportive housing and care for adults with mental illness working toward recovery and independence. Woodley House has recently been certified as a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) provider by the DC Department of Human Services, meaning that chronically homeless individuals and families will be referred to the organization for assistance throughout the entire housing process. Clients arrive with tremendous need and few to no possessions–many arrive with just the clothes on their backs. Items such as quality furniture and new bedding and towels provide an environment conducive to dignity, healing, and empowerment. The Capacity Grant from JLW will furnish the temporary housing apartments with bed frames, mattresses, night stands, dressers, sofas, chairs and dining sets.
INNOVATION GRANT
Foundation Schools, established in 1975, gives students with emotional disabilities the resources and support they need to succeed academically and therapeutically. The Foundation Schools will use the grant to host Groomed by Haye’s 5-week Youth Barber Bootcamp, in their school located in Largo, Maryland to introduce students with emotional disabilities to the world of work, and give them hands-on experience and a pathway to earning their barbering license.
The Groomed by Haye’s program is designed to empower students from underserved communities and specifically targets Black and Latino students who face economic barriers to accessing higher education. The program’s core mission is to provide students with a ladder for economic success after high school by equipping them with valuable barbering skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND GRANTS
Bright Beginnings, Inc. to support the 2023/2024 program to provide critical support for 40 low-income families facing imminent utility shut-offs, housing insecurity, and difficulties meeting basic necessities like food, diapers, and transportation. Funding is needed due to a surge in assistance requests, amplified by the broader economic downturn and skyrocketing inflation.
Calvary Women’s Services to support basic needs due to the recent gas explosion on January 18,2024 that resulted in residents losing most of their essential items such as clothing, shoes and toiletries. If any funds are left over they will go to the Emergency Grant/ Employment and Life Skills Education Program to support at least 250 women who are anticipated to be part of the program and strive to reach a goal of at least 70% of those women to complete the program to end their homelessness.
Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment, Inc. (DC SAFE) to support the SAFE Space Crisis Shelter program to cover emergency transportation to the shelter (eg. Lyft, Uber) as needed to assist clients with quickly getting out of an abusive environment. Funding is needed due to the critical need for shelter and support for the approximately 2,300 individuals facing abuse or homelessness daily in Washington, DC.
Friends of Guest House (Guest House) to support the Nutrition Program to provide three nutritious daily meals for up to 30 women monthly as they return to their communities following incarceration. Funding is needed due to an increase in the number of women being served due to issues spanning housing, substance abuse, mental/physical health problems, financial literacy, job skills training, and emergency needs such as food and shelter.
Friendship Place to support the AimHire program to work with individuals experiencing homelessness to stabilize their home and financial environment and work with employers to match those individuals into jobs. Funding is needed for 70 cellphones due to many participants not having one, which has proved to be a huge barrier when applying to jobs.
Transitional Housing Corporation dba Housing Up to support the Housing Up program to provide affordable permanent housing with appropriate wraparound services to families experiencing chronic homelessness. Funding is needed to provide rental and utility assistance for families living in two of our affordable housing communities, Fort View and Webster Gardens.
My Sister’s Place to support the Fresh Start Fund program to provide clients in their housing programs with financial support for emergency expenses that may destabilize their ability to remain safely housed, and for eligible educational and employment training expenses that support their path to self-sufficiency. Funding is needed due to an increased demand to assist clients with funds for utility bills, including electricity, internet, phone, and gas.
PATHWAY GRANTS
City Blossoms, Inc. to support their 2023/2024 Early Growers program that facilitates early learners’ first connections to fresh food and outdoor learning, and lays the foundation for lifelong holistic well-being and environmental stewardship. This grant will cover key program materials including their garden library resource as well as garden supplies to facilitate early childhood garden-based learning. City Blossoms’ mission is to cultivate the well-being of our communities through creative programming in kid-driven gardens.
Downtown DC Foundation to support their Hygiene and Wellness Program aiding individuals experiencing homelessness. This grant will fund 200 hygiene kits containing essential items such as razors and shaving cream, body wash, toothbrushes and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, hand sanitizer, and healthy snacks. DowntownDC Foundation’s mission is to serve and celebrate the vibrant and diverse community of DowntownDC by providing essential homeless services, revitalizing parks, and enhancing public spaces and experiences.
Personal Care Foundation to support a sun protection initiative, incorporating SPF 50 sunscreen into Care Packages that currently include other essential hygiene items. The specific goal is to distribute a minimum of 200 Care Packages by the end of June 2024. Personal Care Foundation is dedicated to supplying crucial hygiene and personal care products to survivors of domestic violence in Montgomery County, MD.
Tenants and Workers United to support their summer 2024 Homework Help Program, which provides once a week after school one-on-one and small-group academic support and mentorship to any youth who are interested in participating. This grant will fund the purchase of snacks, water, and supplies (e.g. loose leaf paper, pencils, pens, erasers, construction paper, markers, colored pencils, scissors, etc.). Tenants and Workers United’s mission is to organize low-income communities of color (women, youth, workers, and immigrants) to build power and help people become change agents who transform systems, advance social justice, and improve their quality of life in Northern Virginia.