Agencies seek assistance

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Agencies seek assistance

Demand for help rises, but donors don’t follow

by Keith L. Martin | Staff Writer

E-mail this article \ Print this article

If you want a sense of the impact of the economy on Frederick County, sit in Robin Cosley’s seat at The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, where for eight years she has assisted those in ‘‘severe crisis situations.”

‘‘You wouldn’t believe it,” said Cosley, the coalition’s office manager. ‘‘You have those who work for the government, for your doctors, and at your schools [seeking help now]. Crisis has no conscience and it is hitting us all one way or another ... It’s hitting us slowly, but when it hits, it hits hard.”

The Religious Coalition is just one Frederick-area agency witnessing an increase in those seeking help to stay in their homes, feed their families and simply survive the economic downturn.

‘‘At no time has the need been greater than now,” said the Rev. Brian Scott, the coalition’s executive director. ‘‘... Now is the time we need the support.”

Comparing the first three months of 2007 to the same time period this year, Scott said the coalition has seen a 40 percent increase in clients, a 30 percent increase in prescription assistance, a 27 percent increase in eviction prevention assistance, and a 20 percent increase in families accessing the food bank each month.

While demand is high, donations are not at their usual levels, Scott said.

‘‘We believe no need is so great that God can’t meet that need,” he said. ‘‘... We are seeing so many more ‘newly poor’ or those on the edge of that, as it takes a two-person income to be able to keep a roof over your head in Frederick County and some just don’t have that ... but we will help them.”

The demand is equally as high at the Frederick Community Action Agency, according to its director, Mike Spurrier. That agency has seen a 41 percent increase of families or households served by its food bank.

‘‘This is a program where we see a lot of people saying ‘I’ve never been to get services before,’” Spurrier said. ‘‘But at times like this ... we used to hear that they can’t pay rent, now it is their mortgage and that is a different economic stratum.”

The agency’s housing counseling services are highly sought by those dealing with adjustable rate mortgages as well as those with life changes, such as the death or illness of a family member, that cause financial hardship.

‘‘We are definitely seeing more calls every month than the month before,” said Joe Baldi, a housing counselor with the agency. ‘‘The most common theme is loss of jobs in some component which causes the need for help [with mortgages].”

Baldi is a former Frederick city alderman.

Spurrier said that funding from the agency’s primary sources – Frederick County, the City of Frederick, and state and federal grants – are ‘‘so far, so good,” but other donations would help.

At Advocates for Homeless Families in Frederick, executive director Greg Galaida said the agency has seen a rise of 20 percent in calls asking for space in the transitional housing program. The program is now full, with 16 families being served. More families are also seeking help through ‘‘Families Forward,” a homelessness prevention program the agency administers.

‘‘We are turning people away, referring them to [other agencies],” he said.

How to help

Advocates for Homeless Families

www.afhf.org ⁄ 301-662-2003

Supplies needed: Hygiene items, items for babies and children, school supplies; call for more details.

Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs

www.thereligiouscoalition.org

301-631-2670

Wish list includes adult clothing, hygiene products, snacks, soups, serving dishes and cups, heavy-duty trash bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies.

Frederick Community Action Agency

www.cityoffrederick.com⁄fcaa

301-600-1506