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November 2012
This month we assisted a couple with their electricity bill. The only income in the home currently is our client's modest social security income, and they are struggling to maintain while looking for part time work. Client's wife is not yet eligible to draw social security and she reports looking for work for many months now but with no results. Our client also reports searching non-stop for part time work only to come up with few prospective and no offers. Both report feeling overwhelmed and helpless because they never thought they would be jobless for so long. Their monthly budget is short between $200 and $400 just to cover their essentials, and they know they need to add more income to their household in order to turn their lives around. When they came to see us, they were past due on their electricity bill and in danger of electricity disconnection without immediate assistance.
We called their electricity company and paid their bill up to date to get them back on track and secure their electricity for at least another month. Then we talked with them about other possible ways we could help. We asked about their resumes, and if they needed help to maybe spruce them up to make sure that the best of them was coming through on paper. Our client reports that his resume could definitely use some help, and his wife reports that she does not have a resume and just fills out applications when possible. We offered to set up a follow up appointment to help with that need if and when either or both of them decide to work on this project. The following day, we heard of a local job fair and called our clients with the information, and they immediately called back to set up an appointment for help with the resumes in order to be better prepared for the job fair.
Many people in need of help know what they need to change and just need some support and positivity to help them start moving forward. The road back to employment can be long and disheartening in the current economic climate, and reaching out to those on that path to offer training, skills or just encouragement can often be a welcome respite from their current challenges. Building a strong resume or crafting meaningful cover letters is an important task by itself, but even more important is the opportunity to build someone's confidence up in the process. We are glad to have had this opportunity to help, and we are praying for success for them at the job fair!
October 2012
This month we assisted a young woman with her electricity bill to prevent her disconnection from service. Our client moved to Delaware about eight months ago to start a new life after she caught her husband engaged in an affair. She was doing okay for a time, working and building a new life, but a man broke into her apartment and assaulted her, leaving her struggling to get back on her feet in every way. As a result of the attack, she missed some work and lost some pay, first to address her injuries and then to meet with police officers working on the case. Her employer offers bonuses and overtime pay which client had been using to get ahead, but she missed her opportunities for both of these recently, worsening her financial situation, not to mention the emotional trauma she was working through. When she came in for assistance, she was in danger of electricity disconnection without assistance, and unfortunately, she did not qualify to receive any help with regular expenses through the victim's crime fund because her assailant had not yet been captured.
We contacted her electricity company and paid her past due balance to prevent her disconnection from service. We also took time with her, talking over her situation, options and emotions and making her aware of area resources that might also be of assistance. She was deeply grateful, and for at least a short time in the midst of her challenges, she reported feeling hopeful again.
September 2012
This month we assisted a young woman with her electricity bill to prevent her disconnection from service. Our client lives on a fixed income with her young child and her boyfriend. Because her boyfriend is in the construction field, his income is variable and has recently been lower than normal, causing them to struggle financially. They also recently had large car repair bills which caused even more hardship and led them to take out high interest loans which, in turn, worsened their financial situation. At this point, our client expressed a feeling of being trapped in the dead-end aspects of her life, a feeling she has unfortunately had to endure for the majority of her life due to earlier struggles as well. We spent time with her and talked with her not just about her frustrations but about possibilities and routes to change, one step at a time. We encouraged her to consider returning to school and made sure she knows that our door is always open to help her filling out school paperwork or even just to talk. She clearly appreciated the talk and the openness and stated that she felt at least a little better knowing that someone cares.
We contacted her electricity company and paid her electricity bill to buy them time to get back on their feet. We also gave our client information about other area services that might be able to assist as they get back on track. Poverty is cyclical in nature, and once in, the system often works against you, making getting out an almost epic battle. That is certainly the case for this client, and it will be a long road back for her and her family. Many people who are struggling realize this and simply become overwhelmed by feelings of powerlessness and frustration that tend to culminate in stagnation rather than action. Sometimes a caring person or people who are outside this circle can reach out and let someone in need know that there are options, not easy options, but attainable options, if you start by putting one foot in front of the other in the right direction. Most of our clients already know that, but sometimes they need to hear it and hearing it from someone who believes in their possibility can be just what's needed in that moment of despair. The journey begins with a step. We truly hope this young woman has started her journey at this point.
August 2012
This month we assisted a family with their past due electricity bill to prevent their disconnection from electricity service. Our client came in and explained that she has been out of work for some time due to a medical condition that has been making even daily activities difficult. She is ineligible for unemployment because she has not been let go but is simply unable to work. Her employer is still holding a position open for her, but there is no income coming in for her in the meantime. Her husband is still working but his modest income cannot cover all the expenses in the household. On top of the financial stress, our client was equally stressed about her health prognosis and still had many tests outstanding. This was the first time this family found themselves forced to seek assistance, but at this point, they needed help to prevent their disconnection.
We called and spoke with the electricity provider and paid their past due balance to get them back on track. We also gave them other community resource information to help them get through this rough patch. Most importantly, we offered to help in the future with additional information or referrals as needed to help them navigate a system that was wholly unfamiliar to them before this event. Often we see that when people who have worked their whole lives experience an expected event, like a medical crisis or the loss of a job, they really have no idea how to get the help they need. Sometimes they do not even know that help is available. In cases like this, not only do we enjoy helping through direct assistance, we also are happy to be able to explain other local resources so that our clients feel less helpless and alone. Preventing a specific crisis like an electricity disconnection is valuable, but having the chance to empower people through shared knowledge is priceless.
July 2012
This month we assisted a client with his electricity bill to prevent his disconnection from service. Our client came to this country to make a better life, but he was injured on the job some time ago and has been recently unemployed during his healing time after finally having the required surgery to correct the injury. His wife works but earns a very modest income even on her best weeks, and recently, she has been laid off for the summer months, leaving them struggling to maintain their household on a small amount of unemployment income. Our client hopes to be able to return to work within a few months, but they were in desperate need of help to keep their electricity on in the meantime. Their disconnection was scheduled for the day after their appointment with us, and they had no other options left.
We assisted with their past due bill and also their current bill through two different funds in order to prevent their immediate disconnection but also to give them another month to get back on track with more household income. Both bills were modest amounts, but to our clients, they were huge obstacles and stressors that just added to their already challenging situation. We are always glad to be able to pull funds together to fully meet the needs of specific clients. Sometimes when we give a little extra help, we can buy people the time to turn their situation around. We certainly hope that is the outcome for this family.
June 2012
This month we assisted a client with his electricity bill to prevent his disconnection from service. Our client came to this country to make a better life, but he was injured on the job some time ago and has been recently unemployed during his healing time after finally having the required surgery to correct the injury. His wife works but earns a very modest income even on her best weeks, and recently, she has been laid off for the summer months, leaving them struggling to maintain their household on a small amount of unemployment income. Our client hopes to be able to return to work within a few months, but they were in desperate need of help to keep their electricity on in the meantime. Their disconnection was scheduled for the day after their appointment with us, and they had no other options left.
We assisted with their past due bill and also their current bill through two different funds in order to prevent their immediate disconnection but also to give them another month to get back on track with more household income. Both bills were modest amounts, but to our clients, they were huge obstacles and stressors that just added to their already challenging situation. We are always glad to be able to pull funds together to fully meet the needs of specific clients. Sometimes when we give a little extra help, we can buy people the time to turn their situation around. We certainly hope that is the outcome for this family.
May 2012
This month we assisted a gentleman with his past due and soon to be disconnected electricity bill. Our client has been living alone in a home he owns for some time now, and he has also been unemployed and looking for work in his field for almost two years. Our client is 45 years old and reports that the work in the construction field that has employed him his whole life has dried up, and he believes his age is working against him on his applications at this point. He has very small expenses, but given his lack of income, he is struggling just to cover the basics. He reports that he has found a temporary, part-time job that starts soon, but his electricity will be disconnected within the week without assistance at this time.
We contacted his electricity company and paid his past due balance to prevent his disconnection from service. Then we talked with him at length about retraining and about the possibility of him learning a different trade or taking up a new field of study. At the age of 45, he certainly is not ready for retirement, and in order to avoid constant financial struggle, he needs to find another path to employment. Our client then opened up and explained that he always struggled in school and did not do so well on many levels. The thought of going back to school was frightening for him, and he really needed some support to consider reaching for this goal that could make the difference for him in his life. We researched some one-on-one adult tutoring programs and gave our client all the information he would need to reach out and start something new with the one-on-one support that would be key to his success given his history. We also gave him additional area resources for help if he falls behind again while he is getting back on track. Now, it's up to him to decide if he is ready to take the first steps toward a new beginning. We hope that he does.
March 2012
This month we assisted a young college student with a portion of her past due rent to prevent her eviction. She lives with two other young working students and together they struggle to pay their rent while attending school. Although her roommates have family that are helping them with some of their other life expenses, our client is on her own and struggling just to keep her house in order while she works toward the completion of her degree. However, our client lost her job about one month ago, and as a result, the other two modest incomes in the home were simply not enough to resolve their past due rent balance and prevent eviction. We talked with our client at length about her alternatives and about making a workable budget with back up plans to prepare for unexpected bumps in the road.
Then we called and spoke with the property manager at her apartment complex who was willing to work with our client and with us and to accept a portion of our client's past due rent and guarantee our client at least 30 days in her home to resolve her balance and try to get back on track. Although reaching this goal will likely be a challenge, we gave her a chance and now the outcome is in her hands. Often, when young people first strike out on their own, they find many challenges in maintaining their home and need a bit of help in the process. We all believe that young adults need to continue their education, but often we do not consider how difficult that whole process actually is, especially without the support system that many of us take for granted. We were glad to be able to help this young person and also to have the chance to engage with her in conversations about the importance of budgeting and planning for unforeseen challenges because bumps are part of all of our roads and staying the course, even if it requires some help, is the only option that leads to a better tomorrow.
February 2012
This month we assisted a woman with her past due electricity bill which was in danger of being disconnected within the week. She had been injured on the job and her husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. As a result, the only incomes in the home are now small fixed disability incomes plus her husband's small pension. She had tried various agencies but had been unable to find help to prevent her disconnection.
We contacted her electricity company and assisted her with the majority of her past due balance to prevent her disconnection from service. We also gave her other avenues for assistance and possible suggestions to help her and her husband get through this emotionally and financially challenging time in their lives. Our client was able to resolve the small remaining past due balance and to get fully back on track on this front, and she reports that she is hopeful that they can maintain the current household bills now that the larger past due balance has been resolved.
January 2012
This month we assisted a woman who was recently left by her husband and was struggling to get back on her feet. She works part time currently, and her husband was the primary bread-earner, so she was trying to adjust to being the sole income. At the time she came to see us, her modest wages barely covered her essential expenses. She knew she needed another job to make ends meet, but due to the limited job availability in this area, she had not yet been able to find one that fit into her work schedule with her current job. On top of these challenges, she also was struggling emotionally with changes in her life and a huge sense of both betrayal and loss. Her most immediate financial concern was her lot rent, and she needed help to get caught up and back on track.
We called and spoke with her property manager and committed her past due lot rent balance to prevent any court action or danger to our client's home. But in a situation like this, that is only the first step. We spoke with her at length about her budget and options and also gave her time to talk about her life concerns and new dreams. The road ahead for her was difficult. Certainly, there was no way to avoid that truth. But there were also many positive truths about our client and about her determination and ability to turn this situation around with a little help. At the end of our meeting, she thanked us profusely not only for the assistance but for the time spent listening and encouraging. In the end, those things are always the most important ones for all of us.
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