Encompass Housing Awarded $100,000 from Samueli Foundation Breakaway Fund
Santa Ana, CA - September 16, 2025
Encompass Housing is honored to announce that we have been awarded $100,000 from the Samueli Foundation Breakaway Fund. This transformative support will allow us to strengthen our organizational capacity by investing in staff development, retention, and wellbeing.
Burnout is one of the most critical challenges faced by our frontline staff, who provide intensive, direct support to highly vulnerable populations. With this funding, Encompass Housing will advance its mission to end homelessness by ensuring our team members receive the tools, recognition, and support they need to thrive.
Funding from the Breakaway Fund will be used to:
Provide ongoing professional development through trainings on best practices, including de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction.
Support staff in acquiring relevant certifications, such as Substance Abuse Counselors, Fair Housing, and Pharmacy Technician.
Enable staff to attend conferences that foster networking and expand knowledge on emerging practices.
Bolster morale with a formal recognition program, quarterly team-building events, and an all-staff retreat.
“Investing in our staff means investing in the quality and continuity of care for our clients.This generous support from the Samueli Foundation ensures that our frontline team can continue to provide compassionate, expert care to those experiencing homelessness.”
- Deby Wolford, CEO, Encompass Housing.
The Breakaway Fund, launched by the Samueli Foundation, was initially established with $5 million in funding and has since expanded to $11 million to meet urgent community-based needs. Encompass Housing is grateful to be among the organizations selected for this first-of-its-kind grantmaking initiative
For more information about Encompass Housing and our mission, please visit www.encompasshousing.org
