INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Raising over $55K in its first year, The Sally Fund helped North Tahoe neighbors stay securely housed by offering equal shares of its 2025 donations to Sierra Community House and Tahoe Family Solutions for housing support.

Community members responded generously to the call to assist those struggling to enter housing or to stay housed in our region. Using a generous bequest from longtime member Sally Jane Hammel as seed money, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Incline Village launched the fund in November with strong support from both individual donors and a wide range of founding co-sponsors. They included the Fellowship of Compassion, North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, the Offerdahl Family Foundation, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Tahoe Truckee Homeless Action Coalition, Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church, and United for Action.

All were acting to offer well-targeted funds to prevent homelessness. By backing Sierra Community House and Tahoe Family Solutions equally, The Sally Fund provides a two-way solution for housing assistance (financial aid to help individuals or families pay their housing costs, housing cost arrears, or utility bills so they can maintain stability) and rapid re-housing (rental assistance, security deposits, and services to help people obtain housing quickly and stay housed). Both agency partners assess and assist clients; donors to The Sally Fund fuel their work.

The need for support is high and rising. This winter’s snow drought has put added financial pressure on many neighbors already on the edge. Jody Wright, Tahoe Family Solutions Executive Director, emphasizes that requests for housing assistance have gone up 261% at the agency over the last 12 months: “With seasonal employment down this winter, even more of our clients are seeing their lives and livelihoods upended. Housing costs are forcing families out of our community.”

Allison Edwards, Sierra Community House Development Director, agrees: “Calls come in daily for assistance. Workers are facing housing instability; seniors are choosing between rent and groceries. We are grateful to ease their burden with The Sally Fund.”

When presenting the first set of checks from the fund, the Very Rev.Marla Asson of St. Patrick’s thanked the two outstanding agency partners and the co-sponsors present and lifted up its inspiration: “Sally Hammel was a beloved member of this congregation who modeled generosity and kindness to the community. St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church is blessed to help bring this lifeline to our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, to honor her legacy of hospitality and service.  We are so grateful to all who have added their support!”

How can you help? Please uplift our community, as Sally did, by giving to the fund established in her name. Your tax-deductible donation is payable through the QR code below (select “The Sally Fund” in the drop-down list on the PayPal Donations page) or with a check to St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church (341 Village Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451, with “The Sally Fund” in the Memo Line). Ask your church, temple, organization, or business to become an official co-sponsor/funder by contacting St. Patrick’s at 775.831.1418. Come to future fundraisers. And spread the word!