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Celebrating $100,000 Saved!

Amazing. This month members of the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) achieved a significant milestone, surpassing the $100,000 mark of collective savings deposits. Now, almost three years since the program began, CEF members have cumulatively deposited over $100,000 towards their goals. As a result of all CEF savers:  34  have successfully moved out of transitional housing and into apartments  38 have prevented financial emergencies  40 members have successfully saved to purchase laptops  12 have purchased personal vehicles, achieving greater employability and mobility. Most uniquely, 1 member purchased Read More...

CEF in the Summer!

We Need Advocates this Summer:  Sign up here!  CEF Advocates work side by side with individuals struggling with underemployment and unemployment, saving for affordable housing, and sustainably working their way out of poverty. As a CEF Member Advocate: You’ll have the opportunity to work closely alongside one of our Members (homeless, unemployed, or underemployed individuals), helping to provide financial support and access to resources, as well as to build a supportive environment. No experience necessary- we will provide training to all new volunteers! Ready to Read More...

Knitting Patterns

written by: the ever-wonderful Kevin Ji “Is there a freedom to having no assets?” The question was posed to me by a friend and long-time Member of CEF on a Friday afternoon last year during one of our weekly writing workshops. It has been posed before (thanks, Ralph Waldo and Henry David) but at that moment, I found myself fully embracing – and personally grappling with – its sentiment. On its surface, the question exposes materialism and its rampant presence in today’s Read More...

Double your Donation! Now through May 31

Thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Stewards Fund of $15,000, all donations to the Community Empowerment Fund made from March 1 through May 31 will be doubled! Donate NOW to double your dollars and create double the impact in sustaining transitions out of homelessness.  Simply click here to donate now. Or give by check, making checks payable to the Community Empowerment Fund 133 1/2 E. Franklin Street, Suite 105 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Why give to CEF? Learn more and read member stories Read More...

Meet a CEF Saver: Donna

Donna is an incredibly hard worker with a heart for helping people. She is the mother of two grown children, ages 33 and 30, and a grandmother of two cute young kids. Donna is one of 10 CEF leaders participating in our new Renter's Savings IDA Program, saving regularly to build an emergency fund and working with advocates to strengthen her overall financial security. Donna first heard about CEF when she was in the shelter, but didn't get involved until after Read More...

How It Works

How it works is the 1st of a monthly column by our very own ( Member, Alumnus, BBQ Master, CEF Opportunity Class Teacher, Sage of Sayings) Mike Wood.             Let’s get right to it. I first thought I should tell you the all too familiar tale of mine but thought better of it because how I came to be homeless is far less important than what I was willing to do about it. But it is my life experiences that qualify Read More...