Thunderbirds Charities has once again “adopted” one of the 88 two-bedroom single-family homes utilized by the House of Refuge transitional housing program in Mesa.

The grant will fund housing and essential social services for a low-income homeless family for an entire year – including utilities, property repairs, household goods, on-site case management, employment assistance, adult education and youth enrichment programming.

Since 1996, House of Refuge Inc. has provided families in crisis a proven path out of homelessness through transitional housing in a peaceful neighborhood setting. Dedicated staff work with residents to help them identify and address the root causes of their housing loss as they strive to improve income, work toward self-reliance, and successfully graduate into permanent housing in the community.

“House of Refuge receives no federal funding,” explains Kayla Kolar, president and CEO of House of Refuge. “We rely upon the support of caring community partners, such as Thunderbirds Charities, to help us rescue homeless families who may have been sleeping outside or in their cars. Some are desperate mothers with young children who have come to us because they are escaping domestic violence and need our help to start over. We simply could not continue this life-changing work without our wonderful donors.”

Located on 20 acres in southeast Mesa on a portion of the former Williams Air Force Base, House of Refuge is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides dignified transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. Skilled case management and crucial wrap-around supportive services help residents work toward achieving self-sufficiency and securing stable housing. Go to houseofrefuge.org/.

Thunderbirds Charities is a nonprofit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open. Go to thunderbirdscharities.org.