What is the Esther Project?
Our Mission
The Esther Project was founded in 2016 to provide safe, quality, and affordable housing to women coming out of shelters and to provide essential support and resources for sustainability. The Esther Project focuses on human-centered, hands-on programs and services to ensure that women can not only secure but sustain a standard of living that leads to a brighter future. At the same time we are building skills, competencies and mindsets to prevent homelessness from happening again.
Homelessness is unsafe for everyone, but women (and children) are particularly vulnerable without stable and safe housing.
As of 2022, women accounted for 38% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, high rates of domestic, physical and sexual abuse exacerbate the increasing rate of homelessness among women.
The Esther Projects aims to see women once homeless empowered, employed and thriving!
The Esther Project Impact
The Esther Project touches the lives of women and girls in the Rochester region in numerous ways.
Provided purses with full-sized, quality hygiene products to over 700 women
Provided 55 girls with asset-based skills to support positive choices in life
Supported 100 women with empowerment services to remain stable in housing
Executive Director
Executive Director
Cheryl Snead
Executive Director
Cheryl Snead has dedicated her life to supporting her community through her personal and professional pursuits. Cheryl worked for over a decade serving the students and families of Rochester in the City school district before founding the Esther Project in 2016 to address the needs of women transitioning from homelessness. Cheryl also applies her gifts and talents to entrepreneurial pursuits as the owner of a decades-old business Happi Feet. Cheryl is a wife, mother, and grandmother and serves as a Leader in her church.
