An Eau Claire faith-based organization that works on issues such as poverty and the environment has been awarded a $75,000 grant to address barriers to housing. The grant, which will be received over an 18-month period, is from Community Catalyst, a national nonprofit focused on achieving health care for all, via a contribution from the Kresge Foundation.

The grant will fund a project called “Rising From Poverty,” which will work to connect local health systems with people who face barriers to attaining housing. The recipient organization, JONAH (an abbreviation for “Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope”) will work with EXPO (Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing) to recruit individuals who have experienced the need for affordable housing or barriers to housing. These people will receive training and then work alongside JONAH’s task force to pursue policy changes.

“This project represents what JONAH does best – building bridges, bringing groups together to solve a problem, and raising up people who have been marginalized.,” JONAH organizer Lynn Buske said. “I am very grateful to the grantors for this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish.”

Learn more about JONAH at jonahjustice.org.