Support our efforts to break the cycle of poverty

Your Gift Directly Supports Cambridge Housing Authority Students

Your support powers the Cambridge Housing Authority Work Force Program, a vital pathway that helps students gain the skills, confidence, and experience they need to succeed in school, careers, and life. Because the Cambridge Housing Authority covers one hundred percent of administrative and overhead costs, every dollar you give goes directly to programs that serve students and young adults in our communities.

What the Work Force Program Provides Students

Your donation makes it possible for students to access:

• Paid work experiences and internships that build real-world skills and financial stability
• Career exploration and job readiness training, including resume writing, interviewing, and workplace expectations
• Academic and postsecondary support, helping students stay on track toward graduation, college, or credentialed career pathways
• One-on-one coaching and mentorship from trusted staff who understand the challenges students face
• Early exposure to career pathways that expand students’ vision of what’s possible—regardless of income or housing status

Why Your Support Matters

Your gift does more than fund a program—it creates opportunity and long-term impact:

• Removes barriers to opportunity: Students gain access to workforce training and career pathways that might otherwise be out of reach.
• Provides stability and consistency: Individual support ensures the Work Force Program can operate year-round, even as public funding declines.
• Responds quickly to student needs: Flexible funding allows us to adapt programming and provide timely support without the delays of restricted grants.
• Builds confidence and leadership: Students develop professional skills, self-advocacy, and leadership that benefit their families and communities.
• Invests in prevention: Early workforce engagement helps students avoid long-term economic instability and disconnection.

How Your Gift Is Used

The Resident Services Department operates with an annual budget of approximately $3.5 million, with 88% dedicated to direct programming costs, including workforce development for students and young adults. While part of the Cambridge Housing Authority, Resident Services functions much like an independent nonprofit, with nearly 50% of funding coming from external sources.

Due to reduced reimbursement rates and the absence of HUD funding for resident services programming, we are building a sustainable funding model where 60% of support comes from individuals and foundations—ensuring the Work Force Program remains strong, responsive, and available to future generations of students.

Make Your Gift Today

• Donate securely using the form on the right
• Or mail a check payable to Resident Services Empowerment Inc. and mail to:
362 Green Street, c/o Cambridge Housing Authority
Cambridge, MA 02139

Your investment helps Cambridge Housing Authority students turn potential into possibility—and opportunity into achievement.