GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Salvation Army of Greensboro has been awarded a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to strengthen its fight against family homelessness in the local community. The grant comes from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s philanthropic initiative.

The Salvation Army of Greensboro plans to expand its Pathway to Success program, which provides housing and comprehensive support services to homeless families. 

“What a way to end our 120th year of service to the Greensboro community with this incredible gift,” said Captain Chris Raymer, Salvation Army of Greensboro Corps Officer.

The funding arrives at a critical time, as family homelessness in the U.S. has seen a sharp increase from 2022 to 2023, with families now comprising over 28% of the nation’s homeless population, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“We will be able to enhance our ability to serve homeless families in the Greensboro area and provide wraparound services to impact the sustainability of the family unit,” said Leroy Wilson, executive director of social services at The Salvation Army of Greensboro.

The organization, which served nearly 52,000 people last year, has been operating in Greensboro since 1904. Their Pathway to Success program takes a holistic approach, focusing on helping families achieve self-sufficiency through case management and support services.

This grant is part of a larger $110.5 million initiative by the Day 1 Families Fund, which has awarded grants to 40 organizations this year. 

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