Raleigh nonprofit wins $25,000 grant contest

Passage Home staffers said Friday that the money will be used to develop a mobile app that will merge technology and help for the homeless.

Founded in 1991 by Jeanne Canina Tedrow, Passage Home is a nationally recognized, faith-based community development corporation dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

The winning video, which was written, produced and directed by Passage Home's Karis Lovett-Tompkins, featured many of the people the nonprofit has helped in the past 21 years. The video garnered 16,000 votes through social media channels to win the contest.

“It seemed like my only way out was death,” said Onia Royster, who shared her personal story of how Passage Home helped her when she was released from prison a decade ago. “Now I work to help other women like myself who need a helping hand and some tough love to find their way home.”