We are excited to announce our 4th 2023 Fall Grant Recipient!

Thanks to our generous Legacy Giving Circle donor community, Salt + Light Works is receiving a $25,000 grant towards supporting their neighbors experiencing homelessness by providing mental health and housing resources, specifically to youth and LGBTQ+ youth.

Initiative Location: Visalia, California

Initiative Cause Areas: Food Insecurity; Homelessness; LGBTQ+

UN Sustainable Development Goals: 01 No Poverty; 02 Zero Hunger

Initiative Description: Salt + Light is seeking grant funds to support the expanded services of the Neighbor Care Department to provide culturally responsive care to a vulnerable population: youth and LGBTQ+ youth. With a history of dedicated service, we are committed to providing robust programming that meets the needs of our young neighbors and empowers them to break the cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Building on our past successes, our expanded services will place special emphasis on youth and LGBTQ+ youth, recognizing their unique challenges. We have hired a new case manager whose load will include only youth and LGBTQ youth. We are committed to creating a safe environment for these clients, addressing the specific issues marginalized youth face. This case manager will provide individualized support and advocacy, addressing a wide range of challenges, including homelessness, substance use, mental health issues, and discrimination. 100% of this case manager’s load will be youth and at least 50% will be LGBTQ youth. Our case manager will work diligently to identify suitable housing options and provide ongoing support to maintain housing stability.

This case manager will provide an initial assessment, set goals with the client, and make a plan to work through each goal. Goals can include: income stability, housing navigation and permanent housing, AOD treatment, mental health treatment, and medical treatment. At times when clients are in a dangerous situation, immediate emergency placement is also provided.

This project will be an integral part of our Neighbor Care Department, which focuses on providing accessible and culturally responsive mental health and substance abuse services as well as systems and housing navigation through our dedicated case managers. Our organization’s structure is designed to ensure seamless coordination and integration of services. The project will be overseen by the Chief Operations Officer (COO) and will be carried out primarily by our Youth/LGBTQ Case Manager with support from our Data & Research Administrator. The project leader and key staff members possess a wealth of experience and qualifications in their respective fields. Our COO has over twenty years of experience in the medical field, our Case Manager has lived experience, and our Data and Research Administrator has over a decade of data collection experience.

Initiative Impact: Receiving funding from the Legacy Circle holds the potential to catalyze a significant and measurable transformation within our program, increasing our capacity to fulfill our mission and generate profound impacts in the communities and lives we serve. Projected anticipated impacts include: direct support for housing and treatment for vulnerable youth, improved health and well-being for both staff and clients, and a transformative community impact.

The Legacy Circle grant is poised to generate a substantial, tangible, and transformative impact. It will elevate our capacity to serve vulnerable youth, enhance staff well-being, and create a lasting legacy of positive change in the communities we touch. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve with the invaluable support of the Legacy Circle.