Help Us Move In Inc. will match up to $50,000 in donations to help children move out of homelessness.
The Family Support Center of South Sound has received a $50,000 matching grant from local nonprofit Help Us Move In Inc. (HUMI) to help children experiencing homelessness move into stable housing by connecting community donors to service providers to create a sustainable program for children to be HOMELESS NO MORE. According to the 2014 Thurston County Homeless Census, there are more than 1,500 homeless public school students in our community. The Family Support Center needs your help in raising the $50,000 match portion to help homeless children! For 14 years the Family Support Center has partnered with First United Methodist Church Olympia and HUMI to provide over 800 children and their parents with the last dollars needed to achieve stable housing.
The successful partnership in Olympia inspired a generous donor to expand HUMI to become a 501c3 and created a matching grant formula intended to raise awareness and continuous support for qualified communities throughout Washington and eventually spread across the nation. Sarah Scherer, Executive Director of Help Us Move In Inc. said, “Our success is measured by the absolute joy and relief on a child’s face when they become Homeless No More!” Now, a $50,000 “Homeless No More” challenge grant has been offered to the Family Support Center; dollar for dollar up to $50,000 will be matched by Help Us Move In Inc. 100% of funds raised will help children and their families escape homelessness and move into their own home. So far we have raised almost $10,000; we have $40,000 remaining to raise before October 31, 2015 in order to secure the full available match amount.
The Family Support Center has provided services in Olympia since 1992 with the mission of “Working Together to Strengthen All Families” and is the coordinated entry point for all homeless families with children in Thurston County. The Family Support Center also operates Pear Blossom Place: A Family Support Community and has sheltered over 175 children since opening one year ago. Families residing at the shelter are hard working, motivated, and determined to find a stable and affordable home to call their own for themselves and their children, but struggle with the financial costs of moving into a new home. The Family Support Center works alongside community partners, such as Help Us Move In Inc. to support families in reaching their goal of having their own home. With the help of a “Homeless No More” grant, families and their children are able to access the final costs necessary to move into housing.
Schelli Slaughter, Executive Director of the Family Support Center stated, “We are so appreciative of this amazing donation from Help Us Move In Inc. By raising a $50,000 match we will have $100,000 to help homeless children and families in our community who just need that extra little bit to move into their own home. This is a great opportunity to double the impact of every contribution and truly help to end family homelessness in our community. ”
$100,000 will help support families like Crystal, a single mother with three children who stayed at Pear Blossom Place. With intensive case management support from the Family Support Center staff, financial assistance from the Family Support Center and Help Us Move In, and Crystal’s determination, the family is now thriving in a home of their own. Crystal starts work at her children’s neighborhood school this fall as a student teacher.
You can help support families like Crystal’s by donating to the Family Support Center’s Go Fund Me Campaign. All donations up to $50,000 before October 31, 2015 will be matched 100%. Help us support children in our community by donating today; together we can reach our goal of $100,000 to house homeless children! Donate today by visiting us at www.gofundme.com/helpusmovein . For more information contact Schelli Slaughter at 360-754-9297 x211 or schellis@fscss.org . To learn more about Help Us Move In Inc. visit us at www.helpusmovein.org or contact Sarah Scherer at sarah@helpusmovein.org or call 360-890-1174.
