By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
The TD Charitable Foundation is awarding $7 million in grants to nonprofits addressing the affordable housing crisis across TD Bank’s Maine-to-Florida footprint and Michigan. This year, the Housing for Everyone grant program is targeting organizations that support marginalized communities members with rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing and transitional housing.
Applications for the grant program close on Feb. 13, and winners will be announced in May 2024.
“At the TD Charitable Foundation, we believe having a safe, affordable place to call home is imperative. Families with low- to moderate-incomes are struggling more than ever to pay their rent or to obtain a mortgage without being moderately severely cost-burdened,” said Paige Carlson-Heim, director of the TD Charitable Foundation. “Often, they are forced to choose between paying rent or other critical household needs like food, clothing or healthcare. These impacts are disproportionately felt in Black and Brown communities.”
The Housing for Everyone grant program was started in 2005. Since then, the TD Charitable Foundation has deployed more than $49 million to affordable housing efforts through the program. This year’s grant awards range from $150,000 to $250,000.
According to Carlson-Heim, stable housing is fundamental to economic security.
“The number of unsheltered homeless continues to rise and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. Adding to this growing challenge is the end of many pandemic-era support programs, which is only exacerbating the financial insecurity of low-income renters, leading to higher eviction rates and increased homelessness in communities,” said Carlson-Heim. “Successful applicants will have a demonstrated history of providing access to affordable housing for low- to moderate-income individuals and families and will demonstrate a strong track record of creating pathways and facilitating placement for those folks into homes they can afford.”
Last year, HopePHL, a Philadelphia nonprofit that supplies housing, advocacy and trauma-responsive social services to youth and families, was awarded $250,000 from the Housing for Everyone grant program. The organization owns and operates over 200 units of emergency, transitional, supportive and affordable housing.
Kathy Desmond, president of HopePHL, said the nonprofit has used its winnings to deploy $38,180 in assistance to help families facing homelessness.
“All families were at risk of eviction, with court involvement or receiving eviction notices. The housing crisis for each of these families was precipitated by the head of households losing their jobs,” said Desmond. “They were unable to work temporarily due to barriers with childcare, health, financial hardship, higher education and some were still recovering from the COVID shutdown. Hope PHL was able to provide up to six months back rent.”
Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.
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