Economic rehabilitation for reservists in the Kiryat Gat-Shafir-Lachish
Fresh Start
Field: Welfare
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Requested sum: $30,000
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28% of total budget
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Location: Kiryat Gat, Shafir, Lachish
// About the Organization
Fresh Start is a leading Israeli organization providing integrated financial, business and legal support to help families and small businesses recover from crisis, prevent insolvency and regain financial stability.
// Project Description
The program delivers rapid, personalized economic recovery support to reservists and their spouses affected by prolonged service. Through a focused three-month process, participants receive financial coaching, business or employment guidance, legal and debt support, rights access and crisis intervention- stabilizing their situation and rebuilding a foundation for sustainable recovery and growth.
// Project Goals
The purpose of the project is to provide the necessary support to reservists and their spouses who were affected by prolonged army service and economic disruption. The program focuses on immediate financial stabilization, business and income recovery, debt prevention, strengthening financial and employment capacity, and rebuilding sustainable growth through Fresh Starts’ proven economic rehabilitation model.
// Target Population
The target population includes reservists and their spouses affected by prolonged army service, small business owners, self-employed as well as employees. In the first year 30 households will be supported, impacting 150–200 family members and strengthening community resilience.
// Outcomes
Expected short term outcomes: financial stabilization and training municipal staff to identify economic crisis. In the long term: embedding a rehabilitation model in local authorities, strengthening economic resilience, and reducing future strain on the welfare-system.
// Project Timeline
July–August: preparation and coordination with local authorities. From September: services begin. Around 30 families receive 3–4 months of support. Ongoing collaboration with municipalities. Final report at the end of the year. The program is from July 2026–June 2027
// Budget Sustainability
Program continuity depends on integrating the model into local authorities’ operations and budgets over a multi-year process. The initial funding year establishes feasibility and measurable results, enabling a gradual transition to local funding.
Even with partial funding, Fresh Start will continue limited, case-by-case support. Without full funding, the organization cannot build a structured regional program with municipalities, run targeted outreach and referral work, or embed the model as a permanent local service.
// Project establishment status
Fresh Start operates nationwide and already supports families in the area. This program shifts this work into structured cooperation with municipalities, embedding a proven model. The staff and the infrastructure for the program are ready; the necessary funding will enable to launch the program.