From left is Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants & Scholarship Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Krista Somers, Executive Director, Catherine McAuley Center; Frank Caputo, Grants & Communications Coordinator, Scranton Area Community Foundation; and Laura Ducceschi, President/CEO Scranton Area Community Foundation, Administrator of Robert H. Spitz Foundation.
                                 Submitted photo

From left is Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants & Scholarship Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Krista Somers, Executive Director, Catherine McAuley Center; Frank Caputo, Grants & Communications Coordinator, Scranton Area Community Foundation; and Laura Ducceschi, President/CEO Scranton Area Community Foundation, Administrator of Robert H. Spitz Foundation.

Submitted photo

At a time of severe economic hardship for families struggling with homelessness, a local foundation has made a life-changing gift of support. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation presented a generous grant of $7,500 to the Catherine McAuley Center, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and supportive services for homeless women and children in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation’s grant will specifically support the Family Support Program for the Prevention of Homelessness. This initiative addresses the need for early intervention and support for the growing population of individuals and families in our community who are facing possible eviction and homelessness. Designed to prevent homelessness, this program will help to link clients to the specific community services they need, such as emergency financial assistance, legal and mediation services, local public housing authorities, and specialized supportive housing programs.

“In the past, the Catherine McAuley Center has served women and children who are in crisis and are already [experiencing] homelessness,” shared Krista Somers, Executive Director of the Catherine McAuley Center. “By preventing individuals and families from being evicted and losing their place of residence, this program will ultimately reduce the incidence of homelessness in our community.”

Administered by the Scranton Area Foundation, the Robert H, Spitz Foundation funds initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. To date, the Spitz Foundation has provided over $3.7 million in grant funding to the community.