WESTPORT, Conn. - The Bacharach Community, Homes with Hope’s emergency shelter for homeless mothers and their children, has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Near & Far Aid. This funding illustrates the two organization’s mutual efforts to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Fairfield County. The grant will be used to help support the professional, individualized support services provided to each family both during their stay in the shelter, and to help them maintain their housing once they’ve moved on.
Families come to the Bacharach Community from the greater Fairfield County community. They are all struggling with economic issues, and many, also face challenges with mental illness, substance abuse, medical issues or domestic violence. According to Reaching Home, a campaign of The Partnership for Strong Communities, “families with children experiencing homelessness have complex needs, with access to jobs and education made more difficult by limited childcare and transportation options”. Through training and counseling, provided by Bacharach’s Case Manager, the families’ myriad issues are tackled and ultimately the mothers develop the skills necessary to begin leading stable and productive lives. With the assistance of the Case Manager the families ultimately move onto a safe, suitable housing situation.
Near & Far Aid is an all-volunteer fundraising and fund granting organization, dedicated to eliminating the causes and effects of poverty in Fairfield County. They accomplish their mission by finding and funding programs that provide life’s most basic necessities, as well as those that seek to achieve lasting change. Since the year 2000, Near & Far Aid has granted more than $15 million to the area’s best non-profit agencies and programs who further their mission. To learn more about Near & Far visit their website at www.nearandfaraid.org.
ABOUT HOMES WITH HOPE
Homes with Hope is devoted to addressing the needs and challenges of homeless individuals and families, and people at risk of becoming homeless in Westport and Fairfield County. Homes with Hope’s mission is to provide the facilities and support necessary to enable homeless people in the communities they serve to regain an independent and self-sufficient life. For more information: www.hwhct.org.