A nonprofit home for formerly homeless mothers and children that lost federal funding this year is no longer at risk of closing after organization officials said they received hundreds of thousands of dollars in private donations, new grants and additional government funds.
The reversal comes after The Washington Post reported that Olaiya’s Cradle, which runs two group homes for formerly homeless mothers, was threatened after it did not receive federal funding for the first time in nearly four decades. Officials with the organization told The Post that five mothers and their children living in one of the houses could be evicted if they could not find other funds.
“These private donations that we received were split between long-time donors who came forward and people who were introduced by the Washington Post article,” said Deborah Shore, founder and executive director of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, the nonprofit organization profit that runs Olaiya’s Cradle. “Obviously, the thought of losing this program really inspired a lot of people to do something about it.”
Leaders said that after the story was published last month, St. Augustine Catholic Church sent baby clothes and toys, and people sent letters with donations.
The program also received significant contributions from new donors and official sources. The D.C. Council passed a budget this week that allocates about $200,000 in recurring funds to Olaiya’s Cradle over the next four years. Program leaders also said they received multiple one-time grants totaling $200,000, with $100,000 from the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, $50,000 from Capitol One and $50,000 from Amazon, whose founder Jeff Bezos , owns The Post.
In total, officials said they have raised $532,000 for next year, surpassing the federal funds they had lost. In March, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development denied a request for $190,000 to continue funding Olaiya’s Cradle through HUD’s Continuum of Care program, which supports homelessness prevention efforts. While the program was eligible for grants, it did not score as high as other programs that had applied, according to a HUD spokesperson. Officials have said it costs about $800,000 a year to maintain the program.
“When you’ve had as many challenges and storms in your life as many of these young people have, it’s very easy to develop a narrative that no one cares,” Shore said. “It makes a big difference for them to know that there is a community that stepped up.”
D.C. Council President Phil Mendelson (D) said funding for Olaiya’s Cradle in the council’s $21 billion fiscal year 2025 budget reflects a long-term commitment to the program.
“Children, through public education, have the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty, but it is difficult for them to do so if at the same time they or their family face the challenge of housing instability,” Mendelson said. “So if we want to turn the page with long-term thinking, then programs like Olaiya’s Cradle must continue.”
Olaiya’s Cradle has received federal funds to support pregnant women ages 18 to 24 and homeless mothers since it opened in 1988, said Daniel Rico, the organization’s development director.
Mothers, many of whom are Black single parents, can live in transitional housing for up to two years and, on average, stay about 21 months. During that time, they have access to counseling, professional and educational development, and assistance navigating social benefits. Since 2019, it has served 95 women and children, Rico said. Some of the mothers who had spoken to The Post about the program’s financial uncertainty could not be reached this week, and one said she preferred not to comment to protect her privacy.
This program is personal for Rico, who experienced homelessness as a child. Rico said leaders are now thinking about more lasting solutions for a stable funding source.
“We want to raise awareness about the unique needs of pregnant and parenting young women in the District, particularly those experiencing homelessness,” Rico said. “Because even if we don’t see them, they are out there and they need us. And they need shows like Olaiya’s Cradle.”
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