FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Carmela Solorzano
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
Communications Office
(509) 454-4143 ext. 1148 | ynhs.org
communications@ynhs.org
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services Receives $25,000 Grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation
YAKIMA, WA – Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS) today announced it has received a $25,000 Community Possible grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation to help provide 68 “Welcome Home Kits” to formerly unhoused, disabled individuals entering permanent supportive housing. These kits include items they need to set up their personal living spaces, including bedding, flatware, toiletries, and more. As a result of continued support from the U.S. Bank Foundation, people with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing can move into housing with items needed to maintain a household.
“Continued impacts to federal funding and limited state funding makes it challenging to continue to offer programs like these to the families we serve,” said Rhonda Hauff, President and CEO of Yakima Neighborhood Health. “We appreciate the support from the U.S. Bank Foundation, which helps us continue to build and expand these innovative programs we’re proud to offer.”
Each “Welcome Home Kit” cost $363 and includes essential household items to help individuals settle into their new homes. If all the items contained in each kit were purchased retail, the cost would be approximately $975.
Last year, the U.S. Bank Foundation also provided funding for the Welcome Home Kits. As of October 1st, 64 households had received kits, including 31 single adults, 12 families, 13 young adults, and 8 seniors. The remaining four kits will be distributed by the end of October.
“Safe and stable housing helps children, families, and communities thrive. Working with YNHS and supporting their efforts to help unhoused individuals find safe, permanent supportive housing is an investment that will benefit generations to come,” said Esther Richmond, community affairs manager at U.S. Bank.
In 2024, YNHS served 4,270 individuals experiencing homelessness, 56% of whom were Hispanic/Latino. Women comprised 48% of the homeless individuals served and 18% were children. Six-three were unaccompanied homeless youth. In all, YNHS placed 275 individuals/175 households in housing. Programs like the distribution of “Welcome Home Kits” adds another level of security to families working their way out of homelessness.
For more information about YNHS and its programs, visit YNHS.org. To schedule an interview please contact Carmela Solorzano at (509) 454-4143 ext. 1148.
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About Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS)
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS) is a Community Health Center committed to providing high-quality, affordable primary medical, dental, behavioral health care, and social services to individuals and families across the Yakima County. With clinics and resource centers stretching from Yakima to Sunnyside, YNHS provides comprehensive and compassionate care for all –regardless of ability to pay.
About U.S. Bancorp (U. S. Bank)
U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 70,000 employees and $695 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments and wealth management. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships and customer service, including being named one of the 2025 World’s Most Ethical Companies and one of Fortune’s most admired superregional banks. Learn more at usbank.com/about.