Davis Family Charitable Foundation Heading Home Grant

Since 1974, Heading Home has provided emergency, transitional, and permanent housing solutions to individuals and families in Boston and surrounding communities who are experiencing homelessness or have recently transitioned out of it. Over the years, the organization has become a central force in addressing housing insecurity through a model that integrates both housing and wrap-around supportive services. These include life skills development, financial literacy education, and job training opportunities aimed at equipping clients with the tools necessary for long-term independence and stability. On an annual basis, Heading Home serves over 1,400 clients, and nearly 500 households are now living in stable housing as a direct result of its programs. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Danielle Ferrier, the organization is known as a “both/and” agency, highlighting its dual focus on both families and individuals, and its commitment to offering not just shelter, but comprehensive supportive services. This unique model enables Heading Home to serve a wide demographic, from infants to the elderly. In fiscal year 2021 alone, 423 families were supported, with 90 percent of these families being led by single mothers. The client base is also diverse, with 82 percent of participants identifying as non-white and/or Hispanic/Latinx. Heading Home has benefitted greatly from long-term community and donor engagement. The Davis family, in particular, has been a central supporter since 1994. Jon Davis has emphasized the transformative power of not only placing a roof over someone’s head, but also equipping them with services to maintain stability. His perspective underscores the organization’s holistic approach, where housing security becomes the foundation for broader success in life. The Davis family’s support has continued into the next generation, with Stephen Davis joining the board in 2015 and now serving as Chair. His professional expertise in real estate has provided invaluable support, especially during Heading Home’s development of Boston’s largest permanent supportive housing project. In addition to their governance and philanthropic roles, the Davis family and their colleagues actively volunteer in Heading Home’s “Up and Out” program. This initiative engages community members in the preparation of homes for individuals and families transitioning from shelters. Volunteers supply essential household goods such as towels, furniture, toys, books, and kitchenware, even stocking refrigerators and making beds to create welcoming home environments. This hands-on approach is integral to Heading Home’s philosophy of connecting donors and community members directly to the lives they are helping to transform. The organization has earned a reputation as an early leader in wrap-around service provision. Rather than focusing solely on emergency responses to homelessness, Heading Home designs its programs to ensure clients not only exit shelters but also remain stably housed over the long term. Its model recognizes that housing alone is insufficient without parallel investments in life skills and economic mobility. By combining housing placement with targeted supportive services, Heading Home addresses the systemic issues that often perpetuate cycles of homelessness. While the document highlights Heading Home’s mission, impact, and history of community partnership, it does not provide specific details about funding opportunities, application processes, deadlines, or contact information related to grantmaking. Further verification would be necessary to determine whether Heading Home is currently offering or eligible for particular grant programs, or if this information is intended for donor engagement and philanthropic giving rather than competitive grant applications.