Soccer Without Borders Baltimore
Soccer Without Borders operates year-round soccer and academic support programs for refugee, asylee and immigrant youth. Founded in 2009, they serve almost 500 students statewide through after-school, summer, and mentoring initiatives, and uses an English Language Development-integrated soccer curriculum that allows participants to improve their English proficiency. This grant supported the high school program for 100 youth in Baltimore City.
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, Inc.
The Beans & Bread Center, a St. Vincent de Paul program, provides a wide range of services on-site that address the needs of the chronically homeless, including housing, health care, recovery, and employment. This grant supported the Beans & Bread homeless day resource in providing a day shelter, intake and engagement, case management, meals, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry, assistance securing personal identification, and access to phones and mail services. The center operates seven days a week and serves more than 400 meals a day.
Tahirih Justice Center
The Tahirih Justice Center was founded in 1997 to represent women and girls seeking protection from gender-based human rights abuses. Partnering with an extensive network of pro bono attorneys, Tahirih provides legal services to protect clients from immediate danger and to assist them in gaining asylum relief, aid under the federal Violence Against Women Act, and visas for victims of trafficking. This grant supported legal services for 250 women and girls in Baltimore City and surrounding areas, and case management services for 75 clients.
United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.
When wage earners in low-income families experience an increase in income, they often lose eligibility for certain benefits, resulting in a decrease in the gross resources available for the family; this is known as the “benefits cliff.” This grant supports research by the United Way and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy on the impact of the benefits cliff on Maryland working families.
Associated Catholic Charities, Inc.
The Samaritan Center – a project of Catholic Charities – offers to help people resolve emergency needs and increase self-sufficiency through information and referral services, direct financial assistance, and advocacy. This grant provided eviction prevention funds to serve 120 households at risk of homelessness. The Samaritan Center works closely with low-income families and landlords to resolve unpaid rent and ensure clients remain stably house after receiving assistance.