Food Bank receives $100,000 Feeding America grant to support economic mobility through housing stability

October 16, 2024

We are thrilled to announce that we received a $100,000 grant from Feeding America to help more neighbors access free financial education through Stand By Me and comprehensive support to increase economic mobility through housing stability. 

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in Delaware there is a shortage of more than 16,000 affordable rental homes available for low-income renters, and 66 percent of extremely low income renter households are severely cost burden.

To help address the issue, the Food Bank of Delaware will use the grant funding to support its financial coaching that helps Delawareans as they work to build savings and eliminate debt. 

“The end goal is to help secure stable housing in order to transition from public housing to home ownership,” explained Megan Zavala, the Food Bank’s Economic Mobility Director.

Neighbors like Angel have been positively impacted by the Food Bank’s financial coaching efforts. When Angel signed up for the Wilmington Housing Authority’s One Stop program her goal was to own her home. That was nearly four years ago; on July 31, at age 36 she officially became a homeowner.

She praises the Stand By Me® program – and specifically financial counselor Marilyn Ramirez – for getting her on track for success. Stand By Me® offers personal, private, one-on-one financial coaching through a partnership between the Food Bank of Delaware and United Way of Delaware. 

It was Marilyn’s counseling, guidance, and support that kept Angel motivated on her goal so she could complete the program, one step at a time.

“I had the means, but I needed to clean up my credit and get more in the bank,” said Angel. She is self-employed as a housekeeper. When she embarked on the home-ownership journey, she was 32 years old and had two children. “Now, I have four children,” she said.

“Marilyn helped me budget and get my credit score up. I was budgeting, but I didn’t have enough saved,” Angel said.

She praised Marilyn for keeping her focused on her goal. “She does a great job. She told me ‘You have to do this and this to get it [the debt] down. She taught me to stay out of debt. Debt is hard to get out of,” Angel added.

“I worked hard, but I give the glory to God. I saved a lot, and I’m still debt free. I looked for my house for a year and a half; God gave me that house,” she said.

Angel’s voice conveys the pride and happiness she’s realized. “Marilyn does a great job. I have moved. I have a house I can afford. It’s five bedrooms and two full bathrooms in a nice neighborhood, too. That’s a plus,” she said.

“Hearing these stories give me an incredible sense of pride of the work we do here at the Food Bank of Delaware,” said President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “We are giving people hope for a better tomorrow. Feeding America’s incredible generosity will enable us to impact even more lives so we can move people out of poverty and onto the path of prosperity.” 

To learn more about Stand By Me at the Food Bank of Delaware, click here.