ECHO Homeless Shelter receives grant
–ECHO Homeless Shelter has received a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation through the 2018 Community Needs Grant program. The grant will help support shelter operations from July 2018 through June 2019.
ECHO operates a safe and secure overnight 50-bed shelter to meet the immediate needs of families and individuals who have become homeless. With a unique residency program, clients are provided with case management services to assist them in securing a job and finding permanent and sustainable housing within three months of entering the shelter program.
While enrolled in the program, clients are taught life skills for employment, budgeting, health care management and social communication and interaction. The goal and the result of this practical support is the empowerment of residents to move in a positive direction while assisting them in acquiring the skills and services they need to become self-sustaining, including secure housing.
A force of 500 community volunteers provide ancillary support to run the shelter program and a meal program that serves as many as 80 dinners each night to shelter residents and the homeless population. ECHO also operates a shower program that provides hot showers three nights a week to anyone in need. ECHO supplies the homeless population all the necessary toiletries and offers access to clothing, shoes, blankets and sleeping bags.
“We are very excited to receive this generous gift from The Community Foundation,” said Wendy Lewis, President/CEO of ECHO, “The grant will help us provide the resources needed as the people we serve work hard to put the pieces together to find permanent homes.”
The Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. “Twenty years ago our founders came together to begin The Community Foundation; they recognized the growing needs in San Luis Obispo County and had a vision of what can be achieved when we develop resources to work together, creating a greater impact that we can as individuals.” Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County CEO, Heidi McPherson, says, “Supporting ECHO through the Community Needs Grant program illustrates exactly this vision embodied through the work and impact of their efforts to empower these individuals.”
