Timeline:

2020

Dr. Jehu Leconte meets with a number of shelter directors to help crystalized the program and founds EDEN

2021

Danielle Dos Santos joins

Partnered with Victory Programs to refer first program participants

Launched cohorts 1 and 2

Seed funding from Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation and Russell Gives Foundation

2022

Partnered with MHSA and Sojourner House shelters

Launched cohorts 3 and 4

Onboarded 9 Advisory Board members

Secured funding from Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, The Lynch Foundation, Yawkey Foundation, New Commonwealt Fund, and the Red Sox Foundation

Welcomed 4 staff

Grand opening of Roslindale office and purchase 15-passenger van

2023

89% of participants in cohorts are employed and 78% secured affordable housing; 75% have saved over $1000

Secured funding from Liberty Mutual Foundation, The Boston Foundation, Catholic Health Foundation

Deidra Leconte joins as Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer

And beyond...

EDEN will be bringing on more staff to scale its programs to serve hundreds of homeless families. As EDEN continues to prove out the power of its model, it will look to cooperate with city and state agencies to bring a holistic approach, addressing the root causes of homelessness, statewide. With a program that is a fraction of the cost of providing housing for a year to a family, EDEN will not only help many families lead the life they deserve but will also help achieve this in a fiscally responsible way.