Our Housing Start-up Fund provides support for critical initial housing costs people experiencing homelessness don’t have the means to cover.
Costs like security deposits, first month’s rent, initial rental gaps, and utility arrearages so people can move quickly from the streets or shelters right into safe, dignified housing — immediately ending their homelessness and improving their quality of life.
Our Fund also provides essential furniture and household items that must be new, like beds and linens, for people as they move into their own apartments – many for the first time in their lives – and gets them started on their journey to living peaceful, hopeful lives.
Our Fund is essential. People are fragile and moving right from the street or shelter into housing. In fact, 27% of the people helped by our Housing Start-Up Fund slept in places not meant for human habitation prior to housing and domestic violence is the cause of homelessness for over 60% of the women we help house.
Their savings are non existent and landlords won’t wait weeks for security deposits or first/last month’s rent. And people can’t move into an apartment without basic furniture like a bed.
Our Housing Start-up Fund overcomes these barriers for people by covering these costs.
Stories of Home and Hope – Housing First Successes
View some inspiring examples of our Housing Start-Up Fund in action.
You too can end homelessness and transform the lives of our neighbors who struggle on our streets and in shelters by making a donation to our Housing Start-up Fund. Or, browse our Housewarming Registry, where you can help provide essential household items that transform an empty new apartment into a warm, welcoming home for people as they move off the streets and out of shelters into a place of their own.