The YWCA of Cass Clay has received a $2.5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.
It’s the largest private gift in the Y’s history.
"We were contacted by the Day 1 Families fund, asking about our work here in the Fargo-Moorhead and greater Cass-Clay communities, on the front lines of doing compassionate work for those facing homelessness, who are in need of permanent supportive housing," said YWCA CEO Erin Prochnow.
Prochnow said the grant money will go towards a number of items.
"It's going to continue to provide emergency shelter services for women and children," Prochnow said. "And there are going to be some upgrades to our building and infrastructure."
Prochnow said the YWCA is the largest shelter serving women and children in North Dakota.
"We've been in that position for more than 40 years," Prochnow said.
Prochnow said money will also go toward hiring support staff, to help families in empowering dependents in health and education, through the new “Lantern Light – Permanent Supportive Housing” project.
"We purchased the former Sisters of the Presentation Sacred Heart convent," Prochnow said. "And we are converting that to 23 more units of permanent supportive housing."
Prochnow said on any given day, more than 350 people are helped by the YWCA.
