In 2018, $1.1 Million in Safety Net Grants Helped Our Neighbors

Challenges of day-to-day living, at times, can feel like performing a high-wire act without a net. Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s (GCF) annual Providing a Safety Net grants provide a cushion to our neighbors experiencing difficult circumstances, helping them to regain their balance and move forward.

Because the need is constant, GCF awards Safety Net grants annually. The 2019 Providing a Safety Net Request for Proposals has been sent to nonprofits; their deadline to apply is Feb. 1. Due to a recent shift in the level of support available across the community, GCF is increasing the grant amounts up to $50,000 this year. With your impactful support, we can help our neighbors regain their footing — which provides a positive impact on our entire community.

In 2018, thanks to the power of the partnership with our generous donors, GCF awarded $1.1 million in grants to 36 regional nonprofit organizations to support their missions of providing food, shelter and behavioral health services to Greater Cincinnati’s most vulnerable residents. Those organizations span both sides of the Ohio River, with 27 in the Cincinnati area and nine in Northern Kentucky.

Among the results of those grants:

•  “With the support from GCF’s Safety Net grant, Welcome House of Northern Kentucky was able to provide a safe, secure environment for homeless women and their children to stay when all other housing options had been exhausted,” reported Kelly Rose, Director of Marketing and Development. “While in Shelter, clients had access to 24-hour staff support, were provided breakfast and dinner each day, and had access to other Welcome House programs take a holistic approach in ending their housing uncertainty. In 2018 the Welcome House Shelter for Women and Children served 248 individuals with an average stay of 44 days.”
• “With the support of GCF’s 2018 Safety Net grant, ProKids advocated on behalf of the best interest of 887 abused and neglected children in Hamilton County, 99 percent of whom did not experience a reoccurrence of abuse or neglect,” reported Torie Russert, Senior Foundation Manager.
• “When a child comes to the Emergency Placement Program at St. Joseph Orphanage, they find more than a warm bed, clean clothes and yummy food,” reported Susan Mospens, Grant Writer. “They find themselves wrapped in love in a safe, nurturing environment. They are cared for by staff that understand trauma. They stay connected to the familiarity of school and community. When they leave, they have a plan and a network of resources to support their transition. We served 108 clients, providing 892 bed days.”
• “Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky’s (ESKNY) Street Outreach program builds relationships with homeless neighbors, provides advocacy and assists with connection to benefits and housing,” reported Kim M. Webb, Executive Director. “In identifying highly vulnerable homeless neighbors, the Street Outreach worker administers assessment tools, facilitates placement into emergency shelter, if needed, and connects to social services and permanent housing. From May through October 2018, ESNKY served 240 clients, making 401 referrals. Immediate shelter was provided to 28 clients, 34 entered into ESNKY’s Summer Transitional Housing program, 24 clients obtained permanent housing and seven were referred to other shelters.”

With your support we can amplify the strength of the Safety Net grants to uphold those in need. For further information about giving to Providing a Safety Net this year, please contact your GCF philanthropic advisor.