With a recent grant award of $4,000 to Bethsaida, Dime Bank Foundation plans to support Katie Blair House women in 2010. The funds will be used to provide food for program residents (approximately 30 women this year).
For over 23 years, Bethsaida Community provided housing and support services to homeless women through the Katie Blair House and Flora O’Neil programs. Most of the women who enter Katie Blair House do not have jobs or any means to support themselves. An estimated 69% of the women applying to Bethsaida for housing are from Southeastern CT (28% are from other parts of CT, and 3% are from outside of CT). Before the women can find employment and stabilize their lives, Bethsaida provides food to approximately 30 women each year. Once the women find employment and are able to secure other benefits, they pay 30% of their income back to Bethsaida.
Claire Silva, Executive Director of Bethsaida states, “Food is always a high expense for us as we help about 30 women each year through the Katie Blair House program. We are grateful to the Dime Bank Foundation for this grant award and expect the funds to cut our yearly food expense in half.”
For more information about Bethsaida and to see our new Welcome Video, please visit www.BethsaidaCT.org.
