MORRIS COUNTY — Family Promise of Morris County, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness and housing insecurity faced by Morris County families and individuals, announced that it has received a $1.25 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This is the seventh year that the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded grants to organizations across the country that are leading the way to move the needle on family homelessness to ensure that no child sleeps outside.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this funding and be nationally recognized for our work across outreach, shelter, and housing,” said Joann Bjornson, LSW, CEO of Family Promise of Morris County. “This support empowers us to expand safe and accessible housing for families in need. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to make a greater impact in our community. As a member of Family Promise National, we are all working together to end family homelessness across the county. “
Family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, and families now represent more than 28 percent of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2024 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. With its one-time Day 1 Families Fund grant, Family Promise of Morris County will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness in Morris County.
Specifically, Family Promise of Morris County plans to use its funds over the next five years for a planned expansion of its program to support moving families from the temporary situation of homelessness to permanent housing. With this funding dedicated to program expansion, the team is actively raising additional funds to support their existing efforts in homelessness prevention, unsheltered homelessness, and healthcare.
A group of national advisors who are leading experts on family homelessness and its solutions, including the intersection of homelessness and housing policy, child welfare, racial equity, and service provision, identified the organizations selected for funding.
“Family Promise of Morris County was a lifeline for me. The support and resources I’ve received not only helped me find housing but also gave my daughter a sense of stability, safety and hope. Now, working at the Family Promise’s Our Promise Drop-In Center, I see firsthand the incredible impact this organization has on families, and I’m proud to be part of a team that helps others find their way home too,” said Angel Johnson, program alumna and Outreach Team member.
Since 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants are uniquely flexible and enable organizations to support families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—to regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being.
This year, the Fund issued a total of $110.5 million in grants to 40 organizations, and for the first time, nonprofits in Kansas and New Jersey are among the awardees. The other organizations receiving grants in New Jersey are Family Promise of Essex County, Family Promise of the Jersey Shore, and Monarch Housing Associates. The full list of awardees is available at bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund.
For more information, visit www.familypromisemorris.org or follow @familypromisemorris on social media.
