Officials with the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, a nonprofit that coordinates groups in the mission to end homelessness in Houston, announced Dec. 19 they will provide $1.6 million in grant funding to three partner nonprofits.

What happened

The funding comes from a larger $5 million grant the coalition received in 2022 from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, a $2 billion effort by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to fund nonprofits nationwide that help people dealing with homelessness. The grants will specifically go toward addressing family homelessness.

The details

The $1.6 million will go to three organizations that will use it over a period of one year, through Nov. 30, 2024, according to a Dec. 19 news release from the coalition.


Roughly $323,000 will go to The Beacon, which will use the funding to help 96 families with minor children experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness, or are at imminent risk of homelessness. The group plans to:
  • Provide intensive case management, including identifying realistic options to regain housing
  • Provide legal aid
  • Provide help with obtaining state-issued IDs
  • Add a diversion specialist and resource support specialist to the nonprofit's staff
Roughly $892,000 will go to Bread of Life Inc., which provides vocational training and pathways to employment for adults who have experienced hardship as well as wraparound services to help individuals complete certification programs to become phlebotomists, community health workers and IT associates. The funding will help the group start a new initiative aimed at providing mental health services by licensed professionals to individuals in their programs.

Roughly $426,000 will go to Wesley Community Center, which will help people leaving homelessness train for new careers. It will help the group provide wraparound services, such as:
  • Child care
  • Transportation assistance
  • Income assistance
  • Mental health services
What they're saying

“Thanks to the Day 1 Families Fund, the awards CFTH makes to these three partners will drive innovation and accelerate connection to services for families experiencing homelessness," said Mike Nichols, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless, in a statement. "However, it is still crucial that local governments step up to provide public funding. Private philanthropy alone can’t solve homelessness.”

Get in touch


Those experiencing homelessness who are interested in learning more can reach out to the coalition's Coordinated Access email inbox at [email protected].