Two Houston nonprofits are among those getting grants from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as part of a nationwide campaign to end homelessness.
The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund is making grants totaling $97.5 million to some two dozen nonprofits across the country. The fund is awarding $5 million to the Salvation Army of Greater Houston and an equal amount to SEARCH Homeless Services.
Thao Costis, president and CEO of SEARCH, says that while the number of people living on the streets has declined in recent years, the number of people needing help to stay off the streets is climbing.
"There are more people who are living in fragile economic situations," Costis says. "They have a hard time affording rent, and keeping up with all of the costs that it takes to sustain a household, whether it's food, healthcare, child care, and of course housing."
Costis says her organization will use the grant to help people find permanent homes, as well as to enhance family support services for children to help break the cycle of homelessness.
