Women’s Empowerment Receives $25K from Kaiser

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Women’s Empowerment has received $25,000 in new support from Kaiser Permanente to help Sacramento women experiencing homelessness during the ongoing housing crisis. Kaiser is supporting Women’s Empowerment’s work to empower unhoused women with economic opportunity so they can keep their families healthy.  

“Kaiser Permanente has been one of our most steadfast supporters over the years, and we are grateful for their continued investment in our work as we find new ways to help women overcome homelessness during the prolonged housing crisis in Sacramento,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment.

Women’s Empowerment provides a two-month employment-readiness and empowerment program, paid job training, childcare and support services so women and their children can break the generational cycle of homelessness. Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women experiencing homelessness and their children.

The grant from Kaiser will fund Women’s Empowerment’s work with unhoused women in Sacramento to ensure they have a wide range of tools to secure quality jobs and careers that lead to a livable wage and safe home for their families, including job training and support groups for women who have experienced domestic violence or substance use.

“We’re proud to support Women’s Empowerment and its efforts to reduce homelessness and increase access to steady jobs in the Sacramento area,” said James (Jay) L. Robinson III, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and South Sacramento. “Providing access to safe, stable housing and opportunities for employment are part of Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

Last year, 121 Women’s Empowerment graduates secured employment or enrolled in paid training or education. Since 2001, 1,837 women have graduated from the program with their 3,894 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation: Womens-Empowerment.org.

Women’s Empowerment Receives $25K from Kaiser

Posted on by kthebaud

Women’s Empowerment recently received $25,000 in new support from Kaiser Permanente to help Sacramento women experiencing homelessness. Kaiser is supporting Women’s Empowerment’s work to empower unhoused women with economic opportunity so they can keep their families healthy during the pandemic and housing crisis.  

“Funding from community partners does more than just keep our programs going – it tells women experiencing homelessness that they matter and are not alone as they work to overcome obstacles that seem impossibly high right now,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “Kaiser Permanente has been a steadfast supporter of Women’s Empowerment, and we are grateful for their support as we work with a prolonged pandemic and ongoing housing crisis.”

Women’s Empowerment is a Sacramento nonprofit providing an eight-week employment-readiness and empowerment program, paid job training, childcare and support services so women and their children can break the generational cycle of homelessness.

This grant from Kaiser Permanente supports women experiencing homelessness in Sacramento to ensure they have a wide range of tools to secure quality jobs and careers that lead to a livable wage and safe homes for their families. 

“Promoting economic opportunity to help people in our community lead healthier lives is a key part of Kaiser Permanente’s mission,” said Jay Robinson, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and South Sacramento areas. “Through community partnerships like these we are improving financial security and reducing economic inequities to improve the overall health of our community.”

Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women experiencing homelessness and their children. On average, 70% of women in the program find housing despite the ongoing housing crisis. Last year, 142 job placements were achieved by Women’s Empowerment graduates. Since its founding in 2001, the award-winning organization has graduated 1,790 women and their 3,849 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation: Womens-Empowerment.org.

Kaiser Permanente’s community involvement uniquely pairs grant funding with 70 years of clinical expertise, medical research and volunteerism to support prevention-focused, evidence-based programs that are expanding access to care and creating healthy environments. Kaiser Permanente’s grants help more people in Sacramento get access to the resources they need to lead a healthy life. For more information about Kaiser Permanente’s work in the community: About Community Health | Kaiser Permanente (https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/community-health/about-community-health).

Women’s Empowerment Receives $45K in Grants from Kaiser and State Farm

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Women’s Empowerment in Sacramento recently received a $25,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs and a $20,000 grant from State Farm to fund employment readiness and paid job training for Sacramento women experiencing homelessness. The grant from Kaiser also will support Women’s Empowerment’s recovery and domestic violence learning and support groups. The grant from State Farm also will fund financial literacy curriculum. Women’s Empowerment is celebrating 20 years of helping women experiencing homelessness find homes and jobs. The group celebrated its 1,700th graduate in March.

“This is a milestone year for Women’s Empowerment, and we would not be here without the generous funding of local companies and foundations that are committed to ending homelessness for women and children in Sacramento,” said Lisa Culp, founding executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “We are grateful to Kaiser and State Farm for recognizing the important work we do and for understanding that new barriers continue to arise for women experiencing homelessness. Our partners are ensuring Sacramento women and thir children can still rise from homelessness amidst a pandemic, high unemployment and housing crisis.”

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Women’s Empowerment provides a full eight-week employment-readiness and empowerment program, paid job training, childcare and support services so all women and their children can break the cycle of homelessness. Women’s Empowerment was featured on NBC’s The TODAY Show in 2015 for offering the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women experiencing homelessness, and their children. The award-winning organization has graduated 1,702 women and their 3,792 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To donate: Womens-Empowerment.org.

Women’s Empowerment Receives $25K From Kaiser, Arata Brothers Trust

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Arata Brothers Trust and Kaiser Permanente recently gave grants to Sacramento nonprofit Women’s Empowerment’s comprehensive job-readiness programs for women experiencing homelessness. Arata Brothers Trust donated $15,000 to Women’s Empowerment’s nine-week program that helps women who are homeless overcome barriers so they can find homes and jobs. Kaiser Permanente donated $10,000 to Women’s Empowerment’s domestic violence and substance abuse support groups that help women who are homeless overcome the effects of domestic violence and substance abuse so they can find safe homes, steady work and a healthy lifestyle.

“We know that employment is the best way to end homelessness,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “But it takes more than just a resume to secure a job. The majority of women we serve are survivors of domestic violence and are also seeking help as they maintain a clean-and-sober lifestyle. With funding from Arata Brothers Trust and Kaiser Permanente, we are able to help homeless women regain the skills they need to get and keep a job so they can create a safe future for their families. Thank you to Arata Brothers Trust and Kaiser Permanente for their lasting impact on the lives of homeless women and children in this community.”

In Women’s Empowerment’s initial nine-week program, women who are homeless receive free onsite child care in the group’s child development center and transportation assistance. Each woman works with a master’s level social worker to address her root causes of homelessness. She attends classes on job readiness, financial literacy, confidence building, health and empowerment, as well as support groups for domestic violence and substance abuse. Women then focus on job placement with their employment specialist and volunteer career mentor.

Women who have graduated from the nine-week program can enroll in the group’s graduate services at any point in their lives when they need assistance. Services include paid job training, vocational certifications, counseling with a social worker and employment specialist, access to a professional clothing closet, and job retention services for employer and employee. 

Women’s Empowerment was featured on NBC’s The TODAY Show in 2015 for offering the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women who are homeless and their children. The award-winning organization has graduated 1,437 homeless women and their 3,500 children since 2001. Last year, 92 percent of graduates found homes, and 81 percent found jobs or enrolled in school or training. The program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and receives no government funding except for in-kind rent from the County of Sacramento. To make a donation: www.womens-empowerment.org.

Women’s Empowerment Receives $30K in Grants

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Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America and American River Bank each recently donated $10,000 to Sacramento nonprofit Women’s Empowerment to help homeless women find jobs and recover from substance abuse and domestic violence.

“Just as there are so many challenges that lead women into homelessness, there are so many giving people and organizations that empower women to climb out of homelessness and break the cycle for generations to come,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “Thank you to Kaiser, Bank of America and American River Bank for recognizing the complications caused by homelessness and Women’s Empowerment’s powerful solutions.”

At Women’s Empowerment, 75 percent of women in the program have experienced family and domestic violence, and 69 percent are in recovery from drugs and alcohol. The grant from Kaiser funds Women’s Empowerment’s substance abuse support groups as well as its domestic violence learning and support groups.

Bank of America’s grant supports Women’s Empowerment’s initial eight-week job-readiness program and its graduate services. In the eight-week program, women receive free onsite child care in Women’s Empowerment’s child development center and transportation assistance. Each woman works with a master’s level social worker to address her root causes of homelessness. She attends classes on job-readiness, confidence building and empowerment, taught almost exclusively by volunteers from the Sacramento area. She receives health services onsite and is connected to additional health services in the community. She is then able to implement changes that lead to a healthy body, safe home and steady paycheck.

Graduate services are offered to program graduates to ensure they continue to have long-term success. Services include paid job training, online certifications, counseling with a social worker, GED preparation, job development, access to a professional clothing closet, financial literacy classes and matched savings accounts.

American River Bank provided funding for one of Women’s Empowerment’s paid job training programs, The Get A Job Kit, which includes dozens of tools and hundreds of tips to help job seekers of all backgrounds organize a successful job search. The program, which celebrated its first anniversary in April, trains graduates in the production, customer service, shipping and receiving industries. Trainees assemble The Get A Job Kits to send to customers and receive training on safety in the workplace, conflict resolution and quality assurance. Last year, 24 graduates completed The Get A Job Kit training, and 70 percent are now employed with local businesses. In the first year of business, the 24 graduates sold and shipped more than 5,000 Get A Job Kits across the country.

Recently featured on NBC’s TODAY Show, Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women who are homeless and their children. The 2014 Organization of the Year has graduated 1,247 homeless women and their 2,648 children. Last year, 89 percent of graduates found homes and 88 percent found jobs or enrolled in school or training. The program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures. Women’s Empowerment is funded solely through private donations from the community. To donate online: www.womens-empowerment.org.