Homeward Bound receives Melvin R. Lane grant

From Homeward Bound:

Homeward Bound of WNC is pleased to announce its receipt of a $150,000 grant from the Melvin R. Lane Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

The grant will be awarded over 3 years and will significantly build the agency’s capacity to end homelessness in WNC. With this funding, Homeward Bound has created a new staff position in its development department to coordinate its annual campaign.

This funding creates tremendous opportunity for Homeward Bound, in addition to creating staff capacity for the agency. Since hiring its first ever dedicated development position in 2011, Homeward Bound has increased private donations by 44%, resulting in significant agency growth; in that time period, Homeward Bound’s program staff has doubled and its operating budget has tripled. With the additional development capacity created by the Melvin R. Lane grant, Homeward Bound expects to continue its growth, resulting in more and more solutions to homelessness in WNC.

Brian Alexander, Homeward Bound’s executive director, said, “Our work tells a compelling story; since 2006, we’ve moved 640 people out of homelessness and into permanent housing, and 89% of them haven’t become homeless again. Our programs work. This new position will help us spread that message to more people in the community and mobilize them to invest in the solution to homelessness: permanent housing. Development at Homeward Bound isn’t about raising money; it’s about creating relationships that end homelessness.”