New Britain – Family Promise of Central Connecticut receives three-year $75,000 grant from the Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

New Britain, March 2nd — Family Promise of Central Connecticut, the New Britain-based nonprofit that works with area congregations to provide aid to children and their families facing homelessness, has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $75,000 by the Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

The Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation was established in 1957 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, environmental, and health care programming for underserved populations. The Moore Charitable Foundation specifically serves the people of Kensington and Berlin, Connecticut.

Family Promise of Central Connecticut, which will be celebrating their fifth anniversary this March, is overseen by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees, and began helping families experiencing homelessness by providing shelter coordination services with a network of nearly 20 places of worship in Central Connecticut including New Britain, Berlin, Kensington, Newington, and Bristol. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the participating congregations unable to provide shelter to families due to safety concerns, the organization created a new Homelessness Prevention Program. The Homelessness Prevention provides families who are at risk of homelessness a variety of vital supportive services. The staff works with each family to ensure that basic needs are met and that they are safely housed or sheltered. Based on availability, families participating in the program may receive services like rental and/or utility assistance, groceries, and customized case management services including one-on-one supportive conversations, program referrals, and financial literacy activities. The Homelessness Prevention Program launched on October 1, 2020 and as of today the program is serving 10 households and has a 100% eviction prevention rate. Thanks to this generous grant from Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, the Homelessness Prevention Program will be expanded to help even more families struggling with housing instability.

“This gift from the Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation will go a long way towards helping Family Promise of Central Connecticut continue our mission to fight family homelessness,” says Marlaina “Nina” Rodriguez, the Executive Director of Family Promise of Central Connecticut. “The key to keeping children and their families in a stable housing situation is direct rental assistance and nearly one third of the grant funds are designated for that use. This grant is going to enable us to make a meaningful impact.”

Upcoming projects planned by Family Promise of Central Connecticut include a “State of the Affiliate” presentation on March 8th; a basketball tournament at the Vale Sports club on April 9th and 10th, and a month-long “calendar” raffle starting on May 1st.