Greater Washington Urban League Inc

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTGWUL PROVIDES ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS WHICH FOCUS ON FINANCIAL WELLNESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION ASSISTS PEOPLE WITH ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING WHICH ARE OFTEN CAUSED BY FINANCIAL TRAUMA AND DAILY STRESS. THROUGH THE WORK OF THE CFI CLIENTS LEARN TO MANAGE FINANCIAL STRESS, TRIGGERS, AND ANXIETY SO THEY CAN ULTIMATELY BUILD AND PASS ALONG GENERATIONAL WEALTH. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION PROVIDED FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL COACHING, AND FINANCIAL THERAPY FOR 732 CLIENTS. THE GWUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER IS ARMED WITH PROVEN PROGRAMS THAT HELP NUMEROUS BLACK ENTREPRENEURS BUILD AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER SERVES OUR COMMUNITIES WITH A COMPLETE ECOSYSTEM OF PARTNERS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES THAT HELPS OUR BLACK BUSINESSES START, GROW, AND THRIVE. GWUL'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE INCLUDES SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING; FACILITATION OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL; EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MENTORSHIP, INCLUDING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES; AND BUSINESS LICENSING ASSISTANCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER SERVED 382 ENTREPRENEURS.

EMERGENCY SERVICESGWUL PROVIDES A SUITE OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING SAFETY NET FOR OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDING SHORT TERM CRISES INTERVENTION. THESE PROGRAMS COVER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RENTAL ARREARS, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, AND DISRUPTION OF WATER, GAS AND ELECTRICITY SERVICE. OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL DEALING WITH THE PROLONGED EFFECTS OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS, COMPOUNDED WITH THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT IS FORCING HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED POPULATIONS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BASIC NEEDS AND PAYING THEIR RENT, MORTGAGE, AND UTILITIES. OUR SERVICES ARE FREE AND WE GLADLY PARTNER WITH PEPCO AND WASA TO ASSIST CLIENTS UNABLE TO PAY THEIR WATER, ELECTRICITY OR OTHER UTILITIES. THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE SECTOR OF THIS PROGRAM SERVED 849 CLIENTS AND DISBURSED $113,988.40 IN UTILITY PAYMENTS. THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) HELPS LOW WEALTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS GET CAUGHT UP ON THEIR RENT AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. APPLICANTS CAN GET UP TO $6,000 IN AID TO PAY OVERDUE RENT. AS MUCH AS $900 CAN BE OBTAINED FOR A SECURITY DEPOSIT AND FIRST MONTH'S RENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE LEAGUE HELPED 181 RESIDENTS WITH RENTAL PAYMENT DISBURSEMENTS OF $515,176.97 THROUGH THE ERAP PROGRAM. THE RAPID EXIT PROGRAM DIVERTS DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM OR FACING HOMELESSNESS FROM DC SHELTERS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE USED FOR FIRST MONTHS RENT, SECURITY DEPOSITS, HOST HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES, AND RELOCATION. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE RAPID EXIT PROGRAM HELPED PREVENT OR CURTAIL HOMELESSNESS FOR 188 RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING $142,478 IN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. THE LEAGUE ALSO ADMINISTERED THE DISTRICT'S COVID-19 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CHAP) WHICH PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS WHO WERE IN RENTAL ARREARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $4,250 OF FUNDING TO PAY DELINQUENT RENT DUE TO LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT OR REDUCTION IN WORK HOURS RESULTING FROM THE PANDEMIC. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE CHAP PROGRAM ASSISTED 43 DISTRICT RESIDENTS WITH RENTAL PAYMENTS TOTALING $137,276.35. GWUL ALSO ADMINISTERED THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM (RRH) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DC DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. ON A MONTHLY BASIS RRH ASSISTED AN AVERAGE OF 123 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RETURN TO PERMANENT HOUSING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE RRH PROGRAM DISBURSED $375,023 IN RENT AND UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR PROGRAM CLIENTS.