Across the country, innovative social service providers are reshaping the way communities confront some of society’s most persistent challenges—from incarceration to homelessness and child welfare. These projects, rooted in collaboration and compassion, demonstrate how targeted interventions can restore hope and opportunity.
LEO has partnered with six more of these agencies to build evidence around their interventions and identify ways to permanently lift people out of poverty. These partners have the courage to test their programs in hopes of ultimately sharing what works with those who need it the most. Here is a brief look at the wonderful work they are doing!
Criminal Justice
Partner: Televerde Foundation
Project: Career PATHS
Location: Dallas, Texas
Career PATHS confronts recidivism by equipping incarcerated women with the tools to build a different future. Through personal and professional development programs, participants gain both confidence and credentials. Upon release, graduates are welcomed into a network of peer mentors, housing assistance, and ongoing guidance, ensuring a smooth transition back into society marked by stability and hope.
Partner: Dallas Leadership Foundation (DLF)
Project: Faith-Based-Dorm program
Location: Dallas, Texas
Inside Hutchins State Jail, the Dallas Leadership Foundation’s Faith-Based Dorm provides incarcerated men with the opportunity to engage in a faith-based community. In a dedicated dorm apart from the general population, participants engage in financial literacy, anger management, parenting, recovery, leadership, and job readiness classes to rebuild their lives. Grounded in prosocial Christian values, the program helps men strengthen character, foster community, and prepare for lasting success beyond prison walls.
Housing
Partner: Hennepin County
Project: School to Housing (STH)
Location: Hennepin County, Minnesota
The School to Housing (STH) program steps in early by partnering with schools to identify families on the brink of homelessness and connect them to the support they need. Through housing search assistance, nine months of case management, and rental support, STH helps families find a safe place to call home. By preventing displacement, the program nurtures both self-sufficiency and educational continuity, ensuring children can stay in their schools.
Partner: Strategies to End Homelessness
Project: Housing Stability Collaborative (HSC)
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Through the Housing Stability Collaborative (HSC), Strategies to End Homelessness employs predictive analytics models to identify households at risk of eviction before a formal notice arrives. Following identification, a System Navigator works with each household, addressing urgent housing needs and connecting them to lasting resources. By pairing innovation with compassion, HSC helps families not just avoid eviction but build the foundation for long-term stability.
Child Welfare
Partner: Restore Hope
Project: The 100 Families Initiative
Location: Arkansas
The 100 Families Initiative surrounds struggling families with a network of care, connecting them to dozens of service providers ready to tackle the complex challenges of poverty. Through the Hope Hub web platform, case managers from multiple agencies collaborate in real time to meet each client’s unique needs, from housing and legal aid to employment and training. With a “no wrong door” approach, every referral becomes an entry point to coordinated, compassionate support.
Economic Mobility
Partner: Houston Food Bank
Project: Food for Change
Location: Houston, Texas
Through its Food for Change initiative, the Houston Food Bank is transforming hunger relief into a pathway out of poverty. Partnering with local colleges and universities, the program identifies food-insecure students and connects them to the Food Scholarship, which provides up to 120 pounds of groceries each month. By easing the burden of grocery costs, Food for Change helps students focus on education and long-term stability.