My Sister’s House Granted $1.25 Million from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez to Connect Sacramento County Families Experiencing Homelessness with Stable Housing and Critical Services

40 organizations across the U.S. receive a total of $110.5 million from the Bezos Day 1 Family Fund to help end homelessness for families

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – (November 20, 2024): My Sister’s House, a nonprofit providing services for women and children survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, today announced that it has received a $1.25 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This donation is the largest gift in the My Sister’s House’s history. This is the seventh year that the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded grants to organizations across the country that are leading the way to move the needle on family homelessness with the goal of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.

“This grant will save lives. Right now, someone in our community is needing help to escape an abusive situation. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund grant means that person can count on My Sister’s House to be their lifeline,” said Yen Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of My Sister’s House. “We’re so grateful for this generous contribution and will put it to work right away.”

Family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, and families now represent more than 28 percent of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2024 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. With its one-time Day 1 Families Fund grant, My Sister’s House will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County.

Specifically, My Sister’s House plans to use its funds to expand its shelter services to provide safe housing for its homeless domestic violence survivors, expand its outreach efforts to bring more homeless domestic violence survivors into shelter, provide counseling and legal support for families and work toward permanent housing solutions.

A group of national advisors who are leading experts on family homelessness and its solutions, including the intersection of homelessness and housing policy, child welfare, racial equity and service provision, identified the organizations selected for funding.

“As a My Sister’s House leader and survivor, I believe that every woman and child deserves a safe place to call home, and with the support of the Day 1 Families Fund, we can offer not just shelter, but a pathway to recovery. Together, we are transforming lives, one family at a time, and empowering them to build a future free from fear and full of hope,” said Christine Nguyen, Chief Operating Officer of My Sister’s House.

Since 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants are uniquely flexible and enable organizations to support families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—to regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being.

This year, the Fund issued a total of $110.5 million in grants to 40 organizations, and for the first time, nonprofits in Kansas and New Jersey are among the awardees. The other organizations receiving grants in California are: 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic, Arcata House Partnership, Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Homeward Bound of Marin, Hope Solutions and Jenesse Center, Inc. The full list of awardees is available at bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund.

About My Sister’s House

Through its comprehensive programs, My Sister’s House offers Sacramento area women and children emergency and transitional shelters, legal advocacy, counseling, employment, and community outreach, all designed to help women escape cycles of abuse and gain independence.

About the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund

Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to My Sister’s Houses and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.

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