Press releases

House of Hope needs to fill void
left by grant

PRESS RELEASE DATE: SEPT. 8, 2010

A major grant soon will end that has helped House of Hope pay thousands of dollars in rent, child care, transportation and medical expenses this year for clients in desperate need.

The grant is ending on Sept. 30, creating a crisis for the agency and Martin County residents.

In autumn 2009, the Martin County government awarded a grant to House of Hope to provide case management services to help low-income residents obtain, maintain and/or improve their employment while providing them with financial assistance. The one-year grant has been funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA, or federal stimulus package).

A renewal of the funding is unlikely. The result: “Between now and the holidays, House of Hope will no longer be able to serve as many people as it needs to,” said executive director Patrick Slattery. “We will no longer be able to meet the needs of the community.”

From Oct. 1, 2009 through Aug. 31, 2010, the grant has assisted 75 families with a total of nearly $87,534 in financial assistance.

This amount is in addition to $81,390 in Emergency Financial Assistance, helping 484 families. During the same period, House of Hope also has provided Martin County residents with 134 tons of food – the equivalent of nearly 470,000 meals for 12,584 adults and 6,603 children.

The agency works hard year-round to raise funds through grants, sponsorships, donations and events. Despite fund-raising gains of more than 24 percent over the past two years, House of Hope struggles to cope with the demand for financial assistance that has soared 50 percent during the same period.

The agency is also facing these facts during the deepest recession our country has seen in many years:

• Martin County is in its second year of double-digit unemployment.·        

• The average client seeking help has been out of work for more than a year.

• Unemployment benefits generally account for only a quarter of the worker’s original salary.

House of Hope board, staff and volunteers have many strategies in place to raise awareness and funds, and the agency is calling upon individuals, businesses, civic and faith-based groups for help.

“Any amount of financial support will feed a family or keep another in their home," Slattery said.

For information about House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673 or visit www.hohmartin.org.