Our Future

We continue to move families forward with partnerships and collaborations that help our community reach its full potential.

We understand that there is not a quick fix for every problem that our families face.

Poverty is multifaceted, with unforeseen challenges often stacking up against families. At ELI, we walk with our clients through these challenges, realizing that the road to self-sustainability and financial stability is not a quick or easy one. 

We have seen our families succeed and achieve their goals; they go back to school, receive proper job training, get a pay raise and then begin to come off government programs. 

 “Fiscal cliffs” occur when a marginal increase in wages results in a loss in public benefits, often leaving families with fewer resources as their income increases. This is referred to as the cliff or benefits effect, and it occurs when families are not able to accept additional work hours or raises due to the loss of child care and other supports for their children. No parent should have to choose between economic mobility and quality care for their child. (Practical Solutions, States Leading the Way, The Aspen Institute)

This is why we have begun a partnership with The Federal Reserve of Atlanta. With new training, we will be better equipped to serve our families in the transition. While we understand the “cliff” that is created when moms transition into economic independence, we also realize that these moms need financial literacy training to ensure that the help will not be necessary long-term. It will be imperative to educate moms on the importance of taking a promotion even at the risk of losing benefits and our goal is for our Cliff grants to help provide financial security.

15 NEW HOMES COMING TO EAST LAKE

On October 12, 2023, ELI, in partnership with the Regions Foundation, officially broke ground on a transformative initiative to build 15 affordable homes in Birmingham's East Lake neighborhood. Thanks to a generous $400,000 grant, these homes will provide under-resourced families with not just shelter but a foundation for lasting change. Beyond housing, ELI offers a holistic approach with services ranging from financial wellness to workforce development. Families from the ELI Thrive program, dedicated to setting economic stability goals, will soon call these houses home, marking a significant step toward community empowerment and lasting impact.

To read more about this exciting new initiative check out Our News page.