Adirondack Community Foundation leads effort to strengthen the Social Safety Net
Michael Favreau and Audra Green, of Cadyville, were overjoyed to discover they would be blessed with twins. Already the parents of two children, finding a safe, stable home that could accommodate their growing family was essential. A multi-organization partnership led by the United Way of the Adirondack Region and funded by Adirondack Community Foundation paired financial housing assistance with support from multiple agencies at a critical time in their lives.
“We now have a place where all four of our children will have room to grow, play, and thrive,” Audra says. “This home represents a new beginning and a stepping stone toward a brighter, more secure future.”
This story is not unique. A constellation of organizations in the Adirondack region offer individual programs, but people and families often have complex needs best met through a package of services known as the social safety net.
Amanda Bulris-Allen is Executive Director of NAMI Champlain, one of five partnering organizations on the UW–led project. The partners had previously worked together informally for one-time needs. However, the coalition recognized that these “band-aid solutions” were not helping families achieve long-term stability.
Support from Adirondack Community Foundation allowed the coalition to develop holistic solutions that help families not only survive, but thrive. After formally launching in May, the coalition began meeting regularly to better serve local families. Using a short application process, they empower community members to describe in their own words what will help them succeed.
This home represents a new beginning and a stepping stone toward a brighter, more secure future."
When the coalition received Michael and Audra's application for housing assistance, they were able to brainstorm the right support for the family’s long-term needs. They helped the family find a new home
in their current school district, paired with ongoing financial counseling and other assistance to keep the family anchored in the community they know and love.
Now in its third year, Adirondack Community Foundation’s Social Safety Net project — with funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and generous local donors — is building on its past research and regional convenings to invest in innovative partnerships like the one that helped Michael and Audra.
In early 2025, we awarded six $10,000 planning grants to inspire collaborating organizations to develop creative ideas together. This spring, we awarded $150,000 three-year grants to four partnerships to implement each of their ideas.
Beyond grant funding, Adirondack Community Foundation is investing in skills building, coaching, convening and other professional development support. In addition to the project led by the United Way, three others were funded:
• North Country Ministry will expand into southern Essex County by partnering with local municipalities, food pantries, and libraries, embedding a caseworker in these trusted community hubs, to reduce transportation barriers and provide more personalized support.
• LivingADK will lead a coalition with the Old Forge Library, View Arts Center, the school district, and Community Wellness Partners to combat isolation and loneliness in the Town of Webb School District by connecting residents to essential services and community activities.
• North Country Community College (NCCC) and Saranac Lake Central School (SLCS) are launching ADK Connect, a college and career readiness program to decrease the competitive disadvantage faced by rural students after high school and to produce a skilled workforce for the region.
With recent changes in public funding, collaboration is even more critical. “This all goes back to building compassionate communities,” says Amanda Bulris-Allen.
