The Point32Health Foundation announced that five New England nonprofits in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island working to eliminate homelessness will receive grants totaling $690,000. These resources support organizations as they address the health and wellness of people experiencing homelessness, increase affordable housing options and advance advocacy initiatives.

The data show the impact of these barriers. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, people of color and those from communities that have been marginalized are more likely to be unhoused. The New York Times reports that the number of older people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. will nearly triple in the next ten years. And, Health Care Without Walls has reported that the number of Massachusetts women experiencing homelessness is on the rise.

Grant funds will be used to pursue system and policy changes to eliminate factors contributing to rising rates of homelessness, especially among older adults; to develop affordable housing with supportive services necessary to maintain good health; and to expand wellness programs for people experiencing homelessness.

“We need long-term initiatives that remove barriers to housing security and also short-term solutions to address the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Point32Health Foundation and vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Point32Health. “These community organizations are acutely aware of the urgent need and are proximate to this important issue.”

Grants awarded within Massachusetts include:

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Lynn, Mass. ($150,000)
  • Three-year grant to advocate for statewide housing policy changes that support older adult renters with low incomes through the Casa Campaign, which maintains stable housing for those awaiting access to public housing.

  Women’s Lunch Place, Boston, Mass. ($100,000)

  • Two-year grant to support the expansion of comprehensive wellness programming. The program’s trauma-informed approach helps women regain the ability to build life skills.