The Eleanor Network | 2002-2005 Grants

A network of resources to support economic self-sufficiency

2011 Grant Round

During 2011 and 2012, the Eleanor Foundation will continue its grant-making program to expand The Eleanor Network in Chicago.

We are now seeking grant applications from organizations that will partner with us to create programs that promote sustained economic self-sufficiency for single working female heads-of-households who earn between $10,000 and $40,000.

Our 2011 grants will focus on programs that offer practical, skills-based job training and access to jobs that pay living wages. We will also continue to support programs that provide wrap-around services that help them succeed.

Interested organizations can apply as Hub Partners that operate as single-points-of-access to integrated services, or as Resource Partners that offer specialized services, especially employer-driven skills training. Learn more.

2002-2005 Grants

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September 1, 2005

From 2002 to 2005, the Eleanor Foundation awarded $685,809 to the following organizations:

Acorn Housing 
Funded direct assistance, and pre- and post-home ownership training for up to 20 working women seeking home-buying opportunities in the Englewood and West Englewood communities. $46,143 in 2003.

Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT)
Supported a planning process to enable CWIT to build specific partnerships to offer the women it serves access to affordable housing. The organization provides women and girls the training and other help needed to access better-paying jobs in the construction trades. $25,000 in 2003.

Community Economic Development Law Project (CEDLP)
Supported CEDLP's work with the Choose to Own Program, a federal program that helps those with "Housing Choice" (formerly Section 8) vouchers become first-time homebuyers using conventional mortgages. CEDLP trains attorneys to work pro bono to handle all closing related-representation and provide counseling on inspections, avoiding predatory lending, and helping estate planning. $69,224 in 2005.

Goodcity
Provided funding to support up to 30 members of the Austin Childcare Providers Network expand their successful at-home day care centers—helping themselves and other women badly in need of day care. $60,000 in 2003.

Heartland Human Care Services
Launched Heartland's Homeless Prevention Financial Services Program created to provide more than 750 women short-term financial assistance they need to keep their homes or apartments. The program also provides counseling about debt intervention, financial reorganization, and ways to avoid future threats to women's housing stability. $109,162 in 2003.

Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW)
Supported the first three years of a new program to create and implement a new housing and service model based on the Housing First strategy—which seeks to move families into permanent housing to avoid the instability typically associated with reliance on shelters and other transitional housing arrangements. $163,000 in 2002 and $40,000 in 2004.

Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing
Launched and supported the Homesharing Program to carefully pair homeowners, primarily seniors, with working women on Chicago's southside: Hyde Park, Kenwood and adjacent communities. The program design included post-match follow-up and dispute resolution if needed. The intended result was twofold: to house working women who need shelter and help seniors remain in their homes. $30,000 in 2003 and $30,000 in 2005.

Marcy Newberry Association on behalf of the West Side Consortium Training Institute (WSCTI)
  Launched an educational enhancement program for women who had already completed WSCTI's basic 20-week course, in conjunction with Malcolm X College, for home-based child care providers. The program aimed to help providers meet licensing requirements, improve their businesses, and offer much-needed affordable child care services to other working women. $63,280 in 2005.

The Women's Self-Employment Project (WSEP)
Enabled WSEP to extend its program reach to up to 100 women living in permanent affordable housing developments. By entering into formal partnerships with landlords and other housing providers, WSEP was to offer business development and loan assistance to women tenants. $50,000 in 2002.