Causes: Education, Human Service Organizations, Human Services

Mission: Experiment In Self-Reliance was founded in 1964 to identify the basic causes of poverty, to provide information regarding the conditions of poverty, and to conduct programs designed to help low-income persons become self-sufficient. Our formal Mission Statement:Empowering working low-income and chronically homeless individuals and families to achieve their full potential for long term social and economic self-reliance.

Results: From origins in the mid 1960s and the Civil Rights movement to the (almost) post recession economy of today, ESR has remained at the forefront of community action in this area. This year, in spite of difficult economic times and dwindling funding from traditional grant sources, we have still met or exceeded our program goals. We are currently engaged in active fundraising to develop unrestricted funding that can be used for operations, bricks and mortar projects, program development, and direct client assistance.

Target demographics: working low income and homeless individuals and families

Direct beneficiaries per year: 70 households obtain affordable housing; 60 rise above poverty levels; 20 first time homeowners; 2,500 low to moderate income Forsyth County residents file their income tax returns for free.

Geographic areas served: Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, NC

Programs: Self-Sufficiency - providing case management in Financial Literacy, Budgeting, Counseling, Education Housing Services - helping homeless residents find affordable housing IDA - Helping low to moderate income become first time home-buyersForsyth Free Tax - Providing free income tax preparation and asset building counseling