The City of Long Beach, CA partnered with FORWARD to design and administer a streamlined First-Time Homebuyer Program that helped 76 low- and moderate-income households purchase their first home.

A replicable model for school foundations and nonprofits supporting families in crisis

Program Overview The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) partnered with FORWARD  to launch the Empower_u Fund, a groundbreaking NaCo award winning program that provides direct financial aid and wraparound services to survivors of domestic violence. LA County Empower_u Program administered by FORWARD won th 2025 NaCo Achievement Award From the start, Empower_u’s success was evident: demand in the first round far exceeded available funding, hig

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sought to launch a state-wide housing stabilization program to support low-income immigrant and refugee households. Facing challenges in implementation and community engagement, DSHS turned to FORWARD for a comprehensive solution. This case study explores how FORWARD enabled DSHS and its grantees to increase operational capacity and administer innovative programming at scale. Challenges The Washington State

FORWARD’s innovative solution streamlined Multnomah County’s benefits application process, reducing complexity and increasing accessibility for residents. Learn more about how this comprehensive platform addresses common challenges while improving efficiency for both applicants and administrators. Challenges That Multnomah County Faced to Connect Residents to Resources Like many other jurisdictions, Multnomah County faced many obstacles while trying to provide accessible serv

St. Louis, Missouri, home to 300,000 residents, including a 45% African American population and 24% low-income households, faces significant equity and economic challenges. Administering multiple initiatives such as rental assistance, Project R&R, and Guaranteed Basic Income stretched city resources and reduced efficiency. With FORWARD’s enterprise solution, the city streamlined operations, expanded access to services, and delivered programs more effectively. “FORWARD has wor

Harris County, Texas, with a population exceeding 4.7 million, faced significant economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among its small business community. To address these issues, Harris County launched the Harris Hub Small Business Support Accelerator Grant Program. This $6 million initiative was administered by FORWARD and provides customized technical assistance from Roads Consulting Group and  BakerRipley  and financial grants to small businesses w

The City of Milpitas, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is home to over 80,000 residents. Despite the area’s tech-driven economy, rising living costs have placed pressure on essential workers and longtime residents at risk of displacement. To address these challenges, the city committed to providing financial support for small businesses and residents in need. The Milpitas Office of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives and Office of Housing partnered with FORWARD to d