Through our Survivor Resilience Fund, DASH provides emergency financial assistance to help survivors address needs which might threaten their permanent housing, help them achieve safety, and gain the support they need to move forward with their lives. This innovative fund can cover a number of expenses including home security measures, utilities, moving costs, legal or medical fees and first month’s rent. In addition to determining what financial support is needed, DASH staff will go over a safety and wellness plan with survivors to help equip them to remain safe while in the community. Providing survivors with financial support such as this can mean the difference between housing stability and life on the streets.

Without the funding from our Survivor Resilience Fund, this survivor felt that she and her young child would have entered the homeless system:

“It was very important for me [flex funding] because I can keep a roof over my daughter’s head. And it’s even more amazing now because he’s not there so it’s more safer for her and I, as well. And . . . my apartment is so convenient to my job, her school—everything.”

In a recent published evaluation of this innovative fund, 94% of survivors were still stably housed at 6 months after receiving the flexible
funding.