Three D.C. nonprofits have received a donation of $10 million from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie for supporting their fight against homelessness.
Announced Tuesday, 24 recipients were declared as the first set of grants under the Bezos’ Day One Fund totalling $97.5 million. Day One Fund totalling $2 billion was founded in September this year.
In Greater Washington, Community of Hope organization was awarded $5 million, the District Alliance for Safe (DASH) Housing $2.5 million, and Northern Virginia Family Service received $2.5 million grant. The Henrico-based Housing Families First in central Virginia was also awarded $2.5 million.
“These 24 organizations are working on a number of initiatives that support families in need — from emergency shelter and safe short-term shelter for families to get on their feet, to access and support for permanent housing and support services that help families move forward together,” Jeff Bezos said in a statement released on the Day One Fund website. “We hope these grants provide the additional resources these leaders and their organizations need to expand the scope and impact of their efforts.”
The District Alliance for Safe Housing in a statement said that the funding will be used for rental subsidies and emergency financial assistance. DASH supports and creates safe housing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children.
“Our goal is to shift the conversation from one about ‘battered women’s shelters’ to one about concrete action and sustainable, safe housing solutions for survivors and their families,” said Koube Ngaaje, DASH Executive Director. Ngaaje said the funding from the Day One Families Fund will help them in achieving their goal to make “safe housing more accessible and ultimately less necessary in the future.”
Families in need of housing and healthcare are supported by Community of Hope, while Northern Virginia Family Service supports early childhood development, foster care, housing assistance and legal assistance in immigration.
Jeff Bezos has an estimated net worth of $126 billion, as per Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Last week Northern Virginia and Long Island City in Queens were selected as two venues by Amazon for sharing its HQ2.