People Assisting the Homeless, known as PATH, has received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, making it the largest private gift in the organization’s history. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund annually issues leadership awards to organizations helping families move from homelessness and shelters into permanent housing with services to achieve stability.

“This immensely generous grant will play a crucial role in building more affordable housing and providing the supportive services needed to keep families off the streets,” PATH CEO Jennifer Hark Dietz said. “Homes end homelessness, and this funding will help alleviate some of the building costs as PATH purchases, renovates and modifies existing buildings so that they can quickly become housing units. The funds will also help support an in-depth assessment of our family services staff’s top needs and create a training program with in-house trainers, curriculum, software and evaluation. This will build the infrastructure needed to increase retention and serve more families.”

The one-time grant will help PATH in its work to support families impacted by skyrocketing rent costs, limited services and insufficient incomes. PATH plans to use the grant to fund the predevelopment and acquisition of permanent supportive housing for families, and to retain and train PATH Family Program staff.

PATH was selected as a Day 1 Families Fund grant recipient by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision.

Over the past five years, the Day 1 Families Fund has provided 170 grants totaling more than $520 million to organizations around the country working to combat homelessness. This year, the fund issued $123.45 million in grants.

For information, visit BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund and epath.org.