AutoNation announced Thursday that it has proposed a $300,000 matching grant to help combat homelessness across the Southeastern Florida area that is home to the company’s headquarters.
Until Dec. 31, AutoNation said it will now match up to $300,000 in donations made to the United We End Homeless project started by Broward County business leaders. The joint initiative is led by United Way of Broward County, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Broward Business Council on Homelessness.
“We are challenging the members of the Broward Business Community with a matching grant because we care about quality of life for our current and future residents, and the homeless individuals themselves,” chairman, chief executive officer and president at AutoNation and co-chairman of the Business Council Mike Jackson said in a news release. “We must do more to create a home for all.”
For months, the three agencies in charge of the United We End Homeless initiative have been working together to create a strategic multi-faceted approach to finding solutions that can end chronic homelessness in Broward County, according to AutoNation.
“Through the collaborative efforts of a strong and thriving business community, we are determined to find real-life solutions to this humanitarian crisis,” said Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. “We are confident that our business leaders will follow AutoNation's lead by providing the financial support we need to end homelessness."
Phase one of the United We End Homelessness initiative includes providing permanent housing units and ancillary services for the chronically homeless and later the expanding permanent housing solutions throughout Broward County, AutoNation said.
“We are very grateful to Mike Jackson and AutoNation for their leadership role in this initiative,” said Kathleen Cannon, president and CEO of United Way of Broward County. “Broward County is lucky to have corporate citizens like AutoNation who are willing to invest in the future of our community.”