Continuing to strengthen the safety net in Forsyth County will require a greater focus on equity and community engagement. To help meet this need the Trust is interested in efforts to convene residents, grassroots organizations, and safety net providers to map and analyze gaps in the safety net system and to make recommendations for creating a more equitable and responsive set of services. We are particularly interested in the social safety net systems that meet the housing, supplemental income, and food assistance needs of residents. This work should reach deeper than solutions such as better advertising or co-locating services. We are interested in helping the community uncover the policies, practices, and barriers that make services unobtainable for working families or that deter residents from seeking assistance.

Creating a more equitable system requires that marginalized communities and grassroots organizations help drive the process. The Trust is particularly interested in proposals that center the voices of Black and Latinx residents and working people with low incomes. Interested parties should be prepared to discuss and map policies and practices that create barriers to services and propose solutions. These efforts could include technical assistance and evaluation but should include robust engagement of grassroots groups. Proposals should also name the set of safety net services that applicants plan to examine. These could include housing, income assistance, food, or related safety net programs.