Decatur Nonprofit CaringWorks Awarded Grant During Pandemic

DECATUR, GA — CaringWorks, a Decatur-based non-profit agency working to end homelessness by providing access to safe, affordable housing and support services, announced Tuesday that it received a micro-grant to help expand health resources for its homeless and deaf clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CaringWorks is the only non-profit organization from the Southeast selected to receive one of these grants. As a result of the micro-grant, the nonprofit will now be able to provide virtual mental health support for its DHH (deaf and hard of hearing) clients.

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the largest deaf-led social impact organization in the world, selected six recipients for the micro-grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

The CSD Unites Foundation, a program developed to help nonprofits struggling with resources and adapting services during the pandemic, administered the grants.

CaringWorks provides the only deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) program in the Southeast region. The program includes residential treatment and recovery services for homeless men recovering from substance addiction who are also D/HH. The program is offered at Hope House, a 70-bed residential facility operated by CaringWorks for adult men who are homeless and in recovery from substance addiction. Twelve of the beds are designated for men who are D/HH. Strict quarantine procedures during COVID-19 made it difficult for CaringWorks to provide mental health services and regular monitoring for the uninsured, homeless and deaf men who reside at Hope House

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from Communication Services for the Deaf,” said Carol Collard, Ph.D., president, and CEO, CaringWorks in a statement. “As a result of COVID-19, there is an urgent need for telehealth services throughout our organization. Through this micro-grant, we can now meet that need for the homeless and deaf men in our care.”

“The pandemic has disrupted the lives of so many, especially underserved communities like ours and the organizations that serve them,” said Sasha Ponapp, CSD Unites Director. “We are very pleased to offer these micro-grants during such a difficult time and help deliver funding

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth within the deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. CSD’s Social Venture Fund is one of the first angel funds and incubators in the world supporting deaf entrepreneurs and deaf owned and operated businesses. For more information, please visit CSD.