Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Granted $5 Million from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez to Connect Miami-Dade Families Experiencing Homelessness with Stable Housing and Critical Services

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, the lead agency responsible for the oversight, planning and operations of Miami-Dade County’s Continuum of Care, today announced that it has received a $5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This donation is the largest philanthropic gift in the Homeless Trust’s history. 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 with the goal of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.

“Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s transformative gift of $5 million is a lifeline for Miami-Dade. It comes at a time when too many families are struggling and finding themselves caught up in the housing affordability crisis,” said Ron Book, Chair, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. “We are beyond grateful for their generosity and are committed to making strategic investments to dramatically reduce family homelessness and ensure no child sleeps outside.”

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, the Homeless Trust will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness throughout Miami-Dade County.

Specifically, the Trust plans to use its funds to provide immediate, short-term crisis housing; short- to medium-term rental assistance with supportive services; and through acquisition and renovation, create new housing with supportive services for the most vulnerable families in Miami-Dade.

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.

“Over the past three years, emergency shelters have seen a 31 percent increase in families with children between the ages of 0-10,” said Victoria L. Mallette, executive director of the Homeless Trust. “We must invest in housing and services that help families experiencing homelessness regain housing stability. This includes the more than 130 families in our care where at least one member of the family is disabled.”

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 organization receiving a grant in Florida is the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. The full list of awardees is available at bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund. 

About The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust organizes and directs the Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan: Priority Home, administers proceeds of funding dedicated to homelessness, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners on issues involving homelessness. The Trust’s 27-member volunteer board includes representation from business, religious, educational, provider and civic communities, along with formerly homeless individuals. The Trust is committed to advancing equitable access to housing and services for persons experiencing homelessness.  To learn more about the Homeless Trust, visit www.homelesstrust.org.

About the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund

Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.