NEK-CAP, Inc., a Community Action Agency serving families experiencing homelessness, has received a $2.5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This annual grant program supports organizations working to combat family homelessness, which has risen significantly, with families now comprising over 28% of the U.S. homeless population.

NEK-CAP plans to use the funds to expand its services across its 16-county service area in Kansas, which includes Marshall, Republic, Washington, and Riley Counties. The organization will collaborate with local entities to develop both short- and long-term strategies, using a whole-family, strengths-based approach to address homelessness.

Jeanette Collier, NEK-CAP’s executive director, expressed gratitude for the grant, emphasizing its potential to help ensure no child sleeps outside. The Day 1 Families Fund, established in 2018, has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million. This year, $110.5 million was granted to 40 organizations, including nonprofits in Kansas for the first time.