BCM Awards $238,560 To New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter
NEW ORLEANS – Receiving $238,560 over three years, the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter is a recipient of a grant from Baptist Community Ministries (BCM) .
“Funding from BCM is integral to the success of our Shelter because it helps us support our staff who are committed to seeing families go from homelessness to independence and stability,” said Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, executive director of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter. “Our staff’s case-management work is key in making sure women and children escape homelessness by accessing important resources, finding jobs and securing housing.”
Since 2012, homelessness among women has increased by 66%. The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter is the largest shelter for homeless women and children in New Orleans; its mission is to transition homeless families to sustainable and independent living – 80% of the families that the Shelter has served have accomplished this transition.
“Homelessness among women and children in New Orleans is persistent and growing,” Dan Silverman, president and co-founder of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, said. “We are extremely grateful to Baptist Community Ministries for this grant because it allows us to continue to serve this most vulnerable and underserved population of our community.”
According to Christy Ross with Baptist Community Ministries, “We are committed to supporting the work of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter and are very excited to partner with them to meet the challenge of helping families in our community overcome homelessness and remain independent.”
The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter will use the funding from BCM to build a broader community awareness of homelessness among women and children and to support key staff positions within the shelter.
Since the relocation of the Shelter in early 2014 to the old Liberty House in Central City, New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter has more than doubled in size and now cares for twice the number of women and four times the number of children. The Shelter has served more than 900 women and children since 2007 and continues to stay filled to capacity.
