Building Community Solutions Fund — Housing Justice
Currently accepting Letters of Intent until Friday, October 23, 5 PM.
Every day in Montgomery County, community organizations and leaders are working to address and improve civic engagement, racial and social equity, public policies and systems, and social determinants of health and well-being. HealthSpark’s grantmaking, convening, and leadership will stand behind and support their inspirational and essential efforts. Through our strategic goals—Community Power, Leadership, and Solutions— we aim to support transformative leaders, build thriving communities, and achieve opportunities and justice for all.
Our Approach
Health is shaped by far more than health care. Where people live, work, learn, and connect with one another has a profound effect on their well-being.
We believe the people closest to an issue are often closest to the solutions. Our role is not to prescribe those solutions, but to invest in the leadership, relationships, and collective power residents need to shape the conditions that affect their lives.
Year II: Building on What We’ve Learned Together
We believe that housing justice is the foundation for health, stability, and opportunity. Last year, we introduced our Housing Justice Framework and launched the Building Community Solutions Fund – Housing Justice to put that belief into action. In our first year, we supported nine grantee partners working on eviction prevention, homelessness prevention, homeownership pathways, and more across Montgomery County.
Year II carries our Year I learning forward. Our Housing Justice Framework remains our guide, unchanged. What’s new this year is the lens we bring to it: we’re especially interested in work that shifts how housing and homelessness are understood, because changing policy and systems also means changing the story.
Our Housing Justice Framework
At HealthSpark Foundation, we believe that Housing Justice is the foundation for health, stability, and opportunity. Yet too many residents in Montgomery County face housing insecurity or are experiencing homelessness, with housing challenges being disproportionately felt by people of color.
To capture our vision of what Housing Justice means to us, we are proud to share our Housing Justice Framework in support of advancing our mission of healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities throughout Montgomery County:
The expanded framework is provided below:
Strengthening the Housing Justice Ecosystem for Long-Term Impact
You’ll notice our first pillar states “Strengthen the Housing Justice Ecosystem.” But what does that really mean? This pillar represents a comprehensive approach to Housing Justice:
The ecosystem prioritizes advancing legislative and policy changes at all levels of government, aimed at ensuring access to safe, affordable housing for all people, in all communities. In addition to a policy focus, members and organizations are using shared messaging and collectively building a unified and positive narrative about a world where Housing Justice exists.
Why an ecosystem?
Because an ecosystem is an interconnected and all encompassing system. We want everyone in Montgomery County’s housing justice space to actively participate - working collectively alongside fellow ecosystem-builders to strengthen the movement.
What We Fund
We created the Building Community Solutions Fund: Housing Justice because we believe that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing, and that empowering communities to lead the way in creating lasting, equitable solutions is the key to dismantling systemic housing inequality.
In Year II, we’ll continue to support activities that reflect our framework:
- Advocacy to achieve policy or legislative aims aligned with our policy priorities.*
- Increase protections for renters
- Increasing homeownership for low- and moderate-income households
- Increase availability of emergency housing and supports for people experiencing homelessness
- Block efforts to criminalize homelessness and support policies that provide housing and services to homeless individuals
*Requirement: Applicants seeking to advance advocacy must submit a joint application in partnership with another nonprofit organization. We believe advocacy is strongest when it is collaborative. When organizations unite to amplify shared messaging and community voices, the impact is greater. Applications submitted without a nonprofit partner will be ineligible for consideration.
- General operating support for emergency housing, including year-round, winter, and Code Blue emergency housing; and for street outreach or day services specific to those experiencing homelessness
- General operating or programmatic support for organizations and programs that increase homeownership for low- and moderate-income households
Special note: Collaboration is encouraged. If you’re considering a joint application, get in touch with us to discuss your thoughts.
Housing Justice Ecosystem Collaborative
As part of our ecosystem approach, awarded grantees will be expected to participate in this collaborative, meant to stimulate shared knowledge and co-creation in advancing Housing Justice. Grantees will be expected to select 1 – 2 representatives to attend four bimonthly meetings from February - August 2027.
What We Value in Applicants
- A deep understanding of the systemic issues that contribute to housing injustice, along with a demonstrated commitment to addressing these disparities and promoting racial and social justice in housing.
- Applicants should have a track record of working directly with communities, valuing local voices, and prioritizing solutions that are shaped by lived experience.
- The ability to think creatively and propose strategies that challenge the status quo and offer sustainable, long-term solutions for housing justice.
- A history of building meaningful partnerships across sectors.
Grant Funding Details
HealthSpark anticipates:
- Awarding grants with a maximum of $50,000 for a one-year period beginning in December.
- Grants may be awarded as general operating support or programmatic (restricted) support.
- Announcing award decisions in December.
Note: Receiving funding from this grant program does not disqualify an applicant from receiving other funding from HealthSpark through other grant programs.
How to Apply
We are now accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the Building Community Solutions Fund – Housing Justice. The deadline for submitting LOIs is Friday, October 23, 2026, 5 PM. After reviewing all submissions, a limited number of selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. All applicants will be notified Monday, November 9, 2026.
What to Include in Your LOI:
Please include the following information in your LOI:
Organization Mission and Overview
A brief description of your organization, including your mission, the community you serve, and the services provided. (If this information is available on your website or a brochure, you can just link to the appropriate website pages or attach a copy of the brochure instead).
Project Summary
A concise overview of the activities that will be supported.
Alignment with the Housing Justice Framework
A brief explanation of how your project or your ongoing activities align with the goals and priorities of the Housing Justice Framework. Please answer either of the following questions: How is housing justice reflected in your work? Or how do you want it to show up in your work?
Previous Grantees (if applicable):
If you have received a Building Community Solutions Fund - Housing Justice grant in last year's cycle, what have you learned from that work, including successes and challenges, and how is it shaping what you're proposing now?
Contact Information
The name, title, organization/affiliation, email, and phone number of the primary contact person for the LOI.
LOI Length and Submission:
- Please keep your LOI to no more than two pages.
- Submit your LOI as an attached PDF via email to Akshara Vivekananthan, Director of Programs at avivekananthan@healthspark.org.
Eligibility Requirements
- Projects must serve Montgomery County residents; applicants must have a 501(c)(3), or have a fiscal intermediary/sponsorship relationship, or be a religious organization, or part of Montgomery County government.
- Organizations that are not Montgomery County-based (i.e., statewide or national organizations) should clearly demonstrate their connections and work to Montgomery County, the relationships with organizations in Montgomery County, and the connection to and understanding of Montgomery County residents and their needs. Grants awarded to these regional, statewide, or national groups will be in the form of a restricted grant to take place in Montgomery County, where work is centered.
Questions
We truly welcome phone calls about this program before applying and have found that consultations result in clarity about alignment and stronger applications. If you have any questions or are thinking about applying to the Building Community Solutions Fund - Housing Justice, please contact Akshara Vivekananthan, Director of Programs at avivekananthan@healthspark.org.
About HealthSpark Foundation
HealthSpark Foundation is a private, independent foundation serving Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. We are guided by principles of courage, justice, integrity, and hope. We vision transformative leaders, thriving communities, and opportunity and justice for all, and our mission is to achieve healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities throughout Montgomery County. Learn more at www.healthspark.org.