DENVER – (December 9, 2020): Denver Indian Family Resource Center (DIFRC), an organization that addresses homelessness and housing instability among American Indian and Alaska Native families in the Denver metro area, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $450,000 grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families.
“We are thrilled that this support from the Day 1 Families Fund will move Indigenous families out of homelessness because stable homes ensure stable and strong families,” said Tara McLain Manthey, Executive Director of DIFRC. “Families often come to us for help to find or keep affordable housing because they know their culture and dignity will be respected and honored — no matter their situation. This grant will support intensive case management to help move families out of homelessness or housing instability.”
This one-time grant, awarded to organizations doing meaningful work to connect families with shelter and support, will allow DIFRC to directly help Indigenous families obtain permanent housing through culturally responsive services and systems navigation.
DIFRC has led and staffed the Native American Housing Circle since its creation in 2018. The coalition advocates for and creates affordable housing opportunities and direct services for Native American people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the Denver metro area.
DIFRC is one of 42 nonprofits across the U.S. to receive the third annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, as part of a continuing commitment by the Day 1 Families Fund to help end homelessness for families. The Day 1 Families Fund issued a total of $105.9 million in grants this year. To select these organizations, the fund worked with an advisory board of homelessness advocates and leaders whose expertise spans housing justice, racial equity, direct services, homelessness policy, equity for Native American communities and anti-poverty work. This year, the grant recipients from around the country include: Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness; The Cathedral Center, Inc.; Catholic Charities of Acadiana; Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties; Congreso de Latinos Unidos; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Denver Indian Family Resource Center; East Los Angeles Women’s Center; East Oakland Community Project; Facing Forward to End Homelessness; Families Together; Family Life Center; Friendship Place; HELP of Southern Nevada; The Homeless Families Foundation; Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System; HOPE Atlanta; House of Ruth; Housing Matters; Housing Up; Kahumana; MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Metro Denver Homeless Initiative; MUST Ministries; The National Center for Children and Families; Native American Youth and Family Center; North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness; One80 Place; Poverello House; Rainbow Services; Refugee Women’s Alliance; Safe Haven Family Shelter; Samaritan House; Solid Ground; St. Vincent de Paul CARES; Su Casa – Ending Domestic Violence; The Salvation Army Austin Area Command; Time for Change Foundation; United American Indian Involvement, Inc.; and WestCare California.
The Bezos Day One Fund was launched in 2018 with a commitment of $2 billion and a focus on two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help homeless families, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.
About Denver Indian Family Resource Center
Denver Indian Family Resource Center is a nonprofit organization supporting American Indian and Alaska Native families in the seven-county Denver metro area who are involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the child welfare system. The center offers culturally responsive and trauma-informed services to assist children and families in strengthening relationships and re-establishing balance. The center also provides extensive resource and referral support for Indigenous families, including financial assistance for housing, utilities, food and baby items.
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