FAIRMONT, W.Va. – October 28, 2026 -- The FirstEnergy Foundation is awarding $125,000 to seven West Virginia and Maryland organizations providing emergency shelter, housing assistance and support services, part of a housing initiative that grew from $100,000 to $500,000 in 2026 and now reaches 38 organizations across five states.
Recipients serve communities in the territories of Mon Power in West Virginia and Potomac Edison in Maryland and West Virginia, both FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric companies. The Shelter, Safety and Stability initiative covers homelessness, domestic violence and related housing challenges.
Homelessness rises in both states
West Virginia counted nearly 1,925 people experiencing homelessness in January 2025, up 8.2% from the previous year. The number of homeless families with children rose 27%.
Maryland has an estimated 6,069 residents experiencing homelessness on any given night. About 11,745 people enter or stay in emergency shelters or transitional housing over a year, and 1,036 live in places not meant for habitation, such as streets, vehicles or encampments. Families with children account for about 1,943 people in the state's homeless population.
Amanda Mertens Campbell, FirstEnergy's vice president of external affairs and corporate responsibility and president of the Foundation, said the funding is meant to deliver counseling and support services alongside emergency housing, helping prevent repeat housing instability.
Seven organizations receive grants across two states
West Virginia recipients:
- Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, serving Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties.
- HOPE, Inc., serving Marion, Harrison, Doddridge, Gilmer and Lewis counties.
- North Star Child Advocacy Center, serving Wood, Wirt, Pleasants, Calhoun and Ritchie counties. It has served more than 3,000 children since opening in 2014.
Maryland recipients:
- Beyond Shelter, a coalition in Frederick County offering emergency support, energy and prescription assistance, and help with security deposits.
- Casa, Inc. in Washington County, supporting survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and sex trafficking.
- Heartly House, the only organization in Frederick County offering free comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and child abuse.
- Hope Center, which has provided shelter, addiction support and food in the Hagerstown area since 1955.
Foundation housing giving tops $850,000 in 2026
Since 2020, the Foundation has donated over $1.6 million to shelter and housing needs, with nearly $700,000 directed to organizations supporting domestic violence survivors and their families.
Housing-related donations in 2026 exceed $850,000, including the $500,000 for the Shelter, Safety and Stability initiative. Another $135,000 for housing and shelter providers came from the Foundation's $5 million Hunger Action Month initiative. Total Foundation distributions across FirstEnergy's service area exceed $6.5 million so far in 2026.
Employees log 28,500 volunteer hours in 2025
FirstEnergy employees contributed approximately 28,500 volunteer hours across the company's service territory in 2025, using dedicated volunteer time-off. At the 2025 national volunteer-hour value of $36.14, that equals more than $1 million in additional community support. Activities included donation drives, Habitat for Humanity construction work and gardening at rapid re-housing sites and emergency shelters.