U.S. Bank

Women’s Empowerment has received a $60,000 contribution from U.S. Bank to provide Sacramento women experiencing homelessness with job-readiness programs, paid job training and transitional workforce housing so they can secure employment with upward mobility as they work toward affording permanent housing.

“U.S. Bank continues to be an important partner in our work,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “We are grateful for this contribution to support unhoused women as they search for permanent homes during the ongoing housing crisis.” 

Each woman in Women’s Empowerment’s initial two-month employment-readiness and empowerment program receives free transportation assistance and childcare for children up to age 5 in the group’s onsite child development center. She works one on one with a social worker, housing specialist, employment specialist and volunteer career mentor, and attends a range of classes on job-readiness, empowerment and more. 

Graduates of the two-month program can enroll in Women’s Empowerment’s paid job training programs in manufacturing, property management, mobility, solar energy, medical assisting and more. Women’s Empowerment also offers its Trellis Gardens transitional workforce housing program for graduates who have secured employment, but still cannot afford market-rate housing for their families. At Trellis Gardens, they can live in cottages for 12-18 months as they work to increase income, savings and credit scores and prepare to move into permanent housing.

“Supporting the development of a dynamic workforce is an investment in today and our future,” said Ashley Bocek, community affairs manager, U.S. Bank. “We’re proud to work with organizations like Women’s Empowerment to help people succeed in their careers, gain greater financial literacy and build thriving communities.” 

In 2023, 165 jobs were secured by Women’s Empowerment graduates, and 189 graduates secured or maintained housing. Since 2001, 1,903 women have graduated from the program with more than 4,000 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation: Womens-Empowerment.org.

U.S. Bancorp, with more than 70,000 employees and $686 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments and wealth management. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships and customer service, including being named one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. Learn more: usbank.com/about.

Women’s Empowerment recently received $30,000 from U.S. Bank to provide Sacramento women experiencing homelessness with job-readiness programs and paid job training so they can secure employment and regain housing for their families.

“We are proud of and grateful for our ongoing relationship with U.S. Bank,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “Thanks to their steadfast support, we can continue empowering Sacramento’s unhoused women to find jobs and homes during the pandemic and prolonged housing crisis.”

Women’s Empowerment provides a two-month 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 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 during the ongoing housing crisis. Last year, 142 job placements were achieved by Women’s Empowerment graduates.

“U.S. Bank is committed to powering the potential of our customers, our employees and our communities. Through our ongoing funding of critical programs like Women’s Empowerment, we can help make progress in closing the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of housing and workforce development,” said Pamela Maxwell, community affairs manager for Sacramento at U.S. Bank.

Since its founding in 2001, the award-winning organization has graduated 1,740 women and their 3,864 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation, visit Womens-Empowerment.org.

U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $573 billion in assets as of December 31, 2021, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate & Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. The company has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. Learn more at usbank.com/about.

Women’s Empowerment has received a $25,000 grant from U.S. Bank Foundation’s Community Possible program. The grant will fund job skills training, career-readiness classes and financial literacy programs for Sacramento women experiencing homelessness.

“U.S. Bank continues to invest in the bright futures of homeless women through its generous donations to our job-readiness programs,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “Our partnership with U.S. Bank ensures women can break the cycle of homelessness by gaining the skills needed to secure employment, regain a home and manage finances. When our mothers become financially self-sufficient, they create a better life for their children.”

Since 2001, Women’s Empowerment has been working to break the cycle of homelessness for women and children in Sacramento. In the 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, confidence building, health and empowerment, as well as support groups for domestic violence and substance abuse. Financial empowerment courses are provided, including budgeting, improving credit score and second chance checking. With the help of volunteer teachers, women unlearn financial habits and create a step-by-step action plan for achieving their financial goals. 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 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. 

“At U.S. Bank, we invest in and support programs and organizations that help people succeed in the workforce and gain greater financial literacy,” said Jessica Cook, assistant vice president at U.S. Bank. “Through our Community Possible giving and engagement platform we are working to close the gaps between people and possibility. Our partnership with Women’s Empowerment is doing just that.”

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 1,554 homeless women and their 3,738 children. Last year, 82 percent of graduates found homes and 76 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.

Community Possible is the corporate giving and volunteer program at U.S. Bank, focused on the areas of Work, Home and Play. The company invests in programs that provide stable employment, a safe place to call home and a community connected through arts, culture, recreation and play. For more information: www.usbank.com/community.

Women’s Empowerment has received $26,500 from U.S. Bank Foundation’s Community Possible program through a $1,500 sponsorship of its recent gala and a $25,000 grant to help homeless women in Sacramento find homes and jobs that support their families.

“U.S. Bank has been a longtime partner with Women’s Empowerment and we are grateful for their steadfast support that guarantees more Sacramento women facing homelessness will be able to find steady jobs and safe homes for their families ,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. 

Women’s Empowerment’s initial eight-week program for women who are homeless in Sacramento provides women with 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, attending classes on job-readiness, confidence and empowerment. She receives health services, focuses on job readiness with her employment specialist and volunteer career mentor, and learns financial literacy. When she graduates after eight weeks, she can access Women’s Empowerment’s graduate services at any point in her life, which include certifications, counseling, GED preparation, access to a professional clothing closet, financial literacy, and  paid job training through the group’s Get A Job Kit Training and small business. 

“Women’s Empowerment provides the most comprehensive solution in Sacramento for women and children who are homeless,” said Jessica Cook, district operations manager with U.S. Bank and a Women’s Empowerment board member. “At U.S. Bank, we believe all people deserve the opportunity to dream, believe and achieve, including having a stable job and a home to call your own. We are proud to have Women’s Empowerment as one of our Community Possible partners here in Sacramento.” 

Celebrating its 15^th anniversary this year, Women’s Empowerment was recently featured on NBC’s TODAY Show and on CNN.com for offering 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 1,322 homeless women and their 3,000 children. Last year, 93 percent of graduates found homes and 83 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.