How do I find grants for disabled housing?

Can a non profit women's charity provide public housing?

• I have done quite a bit of research over the past year concerning starting a non profit womens charity. Alot of my questions have been answered but before I write a mission statement and get my bylaws drawn up, I need to narrow down exactly what I'm going to do. What I want to do is along the lines of providing temporary housing (up to 18 months), For women only. I looked into grants and am unable to find any information on wether it would work or not to get grants for a non profit for housing. As It would be income based housing and would go through hud after they came up on the waiting list of course, I am not sure how or where the payments would go to. If I'm a non profit, I can't use this for income but could I use it as money to use towards bettering the charity? If anyone has any links to websites where I could read about this, or some insider information, it would be greatly appreciated!!!

• Answer:

  You can be an employee of a nonprofit, even one you start, and therefore make an income from it. Someone needs to run it, and be paid for that, and that can be the founder. Yes, you can get grants for a nonprofit for housing. Check with www.foundationcenter.org. They have some info for free and a lot for about $19.95 a month. If you're looking to be a nonprofit, you're looking at a lot of work, a lot! You might consider approaching an organization that is already operating and see if you can start a program with them. For example, you could find a group that does housing and see if you could start a program for just women. Or you could find a women's shelter and start a program for permanent housing. Then you would get to focus on the work you really want to do, helping women, rather than filling out forms. I suggest you also speak to organizations that are providing housing for women, perhaps in other cities. I can recommend Mt. Carmel House in Washington, D.C., which I think does a great job.