Congreso de Latinos Unidos Receives $5 Million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant to End Homelessness

Julia Rivera, Director of External Affairs: riveraju@congreso.net | 267-475-8460

Day 1 Families Fund grants $105.9 million to 42 nonprofits helping families gain housing support and stability

PHILADELPHIA – (December 9, 2020): Congreso de Latinos Unidos (Congreso), a multi-service social service agency, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, 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.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be a recipient of a Day 1 Families Fund grant. At Congreso, we know the power of a safe and stable home — a space where families can come together and can focus on building a bright future of economic self-sufficiency and well-being. We are grateful to the Day 1 Families Fund for selecting us so we may continue serving and supporting families to ensure that this basic right becomes a reality,” said Carolina DiGiorgio, President and CEO of Congreso.

This one-time grant, awarded to organizations doing meaningful work to connect families with shelter and support, will allow Congreso to continue helping families in hard-to-reach populations rapidly resolve their housing crises. It will also allow Congreso to provide rehoused families with comprehensive supports that help ensure they remain housed.

Congreso is one of 42 nonprofits across the U.S. to receive the third annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, as part of a continuing commitment by the Day 1 Families Fund to help end homelessness for families. The Day 1 Families Fund issued a total of $105.9 million in grants this year. To select these organizations, the fund worked with an advisory board of homelessness advocates and leaders whose expertise spans housing justice, racial equity, direct services, homelessness policy, equity for Native American communities and anti-poverty work. This year, the grant recipients from around the country include: Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness; The Cathedral Center, Inc.; Catholic Charities of Acadiana; Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Inc.; Congreso de Latinos Unidos; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Denver Indian Family Resource Center; East Los Angeles Women’s Center; East Oakland Community Project; Facing Forward to End Homelessness; Families Together; Family Life Center; Friendship Place; HELP of Southern Nevada; The Homeless Families Foundation; Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System; HOPE Atlanta; House of Ruth; Housing Matters; Housing Up; Kahumana; MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Metro Denver Homeless Initiative; MUST Ministries; The National Center for Children and Families; Native American Youth and Family Center; North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness; One80 Place; Poverello House; Rainbow Services; Refugee Women’s Alliance; Safe Haven Family Shelter; Samaritan House; Solid Ground; St. Vincent de Paul CARES; Su Casa – Ending Domestic Violence; The Salvation Army Austin Area Command; Time for Change Foundation; United American Indian Involvement, Inc.; and WestCare California.

“COVID-19 is causing a housing emergency in our neighborhoods. We’re proud of the work Congreso has already done to ensure families can stay in their homes. This grant will allow us to serve so many more people on the verge of homelessness. We’re beyond grateful for this opportunity and are ready to start the work right away,” shared Daisy Rosa, Vice President of Family & Housing Services at Congreso.

The Bezos Day One Fund was launched in 2018 with a commitment of $2 billion and a focus on two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help homeless families, and creating a network of new, nonprofit 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.

About Congreso de Latinos Unidos

Founded in 1977, Congreso is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in eastern North Philadelphia with a mission to enable individuals and families in predominantly Latino neighborhoods to achieve economic self-sufficiency and well-being. Congreso served over 12,500 individuals in FY20 through its education, employment, housing, health and social services. The multi-service agency’s Primary Client Model (PCM™) ensures a client-centered, data-informed and culturally appreciative approach to delivering high-quality and impactful programs. For more information, please visit www.congreso.net or call 215-763-8870.