The Hudson Gateway Realtor® Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors®, recently presented a check for $5,000 to The Bridge Fund of Westchester in White Plains, which strives to prevent homelessness for vulnerable, working poor individuals and families who are threatened with the loss of their housing, but often do not qualify for emergency government assistance.
The Bridge Fund provides interest-free loans or grants to pay rental arrears to keep clients in their affordable housing. In addition, the organization provides personal budget counseling and free money management workshops.
The average assistance in Westchester is $1,600, and $1,800 in New York City. These low-cost loans not only save individuals and families from homelessness, but also save thousands of dollars in costs for shelter housing. In Westchester, housing a family in a public shelter costs more than $50,000 annually.
“The Bridge Fund of New York is incredibly grateful to the Hudson Gateway Realtor® Foundation for its donation,” said Anthony Sabia, executive director, The Bridge Fund of New York. “The funding provided will help us to prevent multiple working poor families from losing their housing.”
Established in 2004 and relaunched in 2013, the HG Realtor Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities and nonprofits throughout the Hudson Valley. It is the second largest Realtor® Association in New York, and one of the largest in the country.
