Today, we’d like to shine a spotlight on one of our partners, Home Start Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending childhood abuse while providing crucial support for families in San Diego. At the heart of Home Start’s mission is a commitment to addressing the root causes of risky or abusive situations – poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment.
Since 1972, they’ve been strengthening and developing San Diego’s families and communities through five different programs that promote child safety, maternity-housing opportunities, home-based services, and more. Home Start’s vision is for every child in San Diego to have a safe, stable, and nurturing home. To do this, they help mothers and their children find safe living situations and holistic wraparound support so they are able to overcome difficulty.
Creating Savings through Social Enterprise…and Solar!
To support their mission, Home Start has found ways to be more economically self-sustaining and have now added environmental sustainability to their strategy..
Many nonprofit organizations start social enterprises to create new opportunities for the communities they serve as to generate self-sustaining revenue for themselves. Home Start operates two – a thrift boutique and a candle company. Recently HomeStart partnered with BQuest to install two solar systems to further economic sustainability and at the same time reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Thrifting for a Cause
During a recent visit to Home Start, we caught up with Home Start’s CEO, Laura Tancredi-Baese and Home Start’s Director of Philanthropy, Mark Legace for a tour of the Thrift Boutique on Adam’s Ave. The store not only reinvests its profits into programs like the Maternity Housing Program but also provides employment opportunities and on-the-job training for Home Start program clients.
Builder Brighter Futures
Stacked on shelves along the wall of Home Start’s Thrift Boutique were rows of Home Start’s Bright Futures Candles. Hand-poured, fully organic, soy and coconut wax candles are crafted in the small candle-making studio behind the Thrift Boutique.
“You can buy a cheaper candle at one of those big box stores but when you buy a Bright Futures Candle you really are changing the life of a young woman and her child and we’re forever grateful for you supporting us in that work,” shares Laura in this video about Bright Futures Candle.
Solar Savings
Home Start has continued to find ways to serve their community while creating financial sustainability by installing solar. Partnering with BQuest Foundation and Hammond Climate Solution Foundation’s Solar Moonshot Program, Home Start installed a 3.1 kW solar system on one of their multi-unit properties that houses mothers and their children.
This year, Home Start is installing another solar system on a separate property that is being funded through SunForAll Solar Fund, a program that is financed by the BQuest Foundation in partnership with Collective Sun. That 16.8 kw system will power another multi-family property for mothers and their children.
“Savings from having solar power are going directly back into supporting our life-changing programs so we can serve more families in need. Not only do these savings support those that rely on Home Start but they’re also making a difference for the health of our planet,” shared Laura Tancredi-Baese, Home Start’s Chief Executive Officer.
Opportunity for All
We are inspired by Home Start’s life-changing work to help women and children in San Diego find support and a safe home and we are proud to play a small role in helping them achieve their mission.
If you know another amazing nonprofit that could benefit from solar financing or want to explore ways your organization can move toward a more sustainable future, please connect with us at info@bquestfoundation.org.