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House
of Hope programs
Martin County residents have access to HOH
services at each of our four
locations (Stuart,
Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach):
The House
of Hope's Food Pantries are the leading source of food
for the hungry in Martin County. With answers to a
few simple questions, people can receive a supply of
nutritionally balance groceries. For example, a family
of four will usually be given about 25 pounds of staples
-- enough to sustain them for a few days.
As more
people struggle with their monthly bills, they are
increasingly turning to food banks to help stretch their
dollars.
Over the
past two years, the demand has grown as the economy has
worsened. In 2007, House of Hope distributed 110 tons of
food (about 264,000 meals), and in 2008, the agency
distributed about 120 tons of food (the equivalent of
about 288,000 meals).
In
addition to food, families seeking help from House of
Hope often lack the resources to buy sufficient clothing
and other necessities. The Clothes Closet provides free
clothing, household necessities, furniture and
appliances to people who would otherwise do without.
About 25,000 such items have been distributed in 2008.
The Clothes Closets at each HOH location double as
income-producing Resale Stores.
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Emergency Financial Assistance Program
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The
Emergency
Financial Assistance Program offers temporary
financial assistance. It is designed to pay critical
bills when families and individuals are struggling for
stability at times of crisis.
The EFA program most often helps with housing payments and
utility bills, and it targets Martin County residents
who work hard but suddenly find themselves unable to
make ends meet. Typically, EFA clients are low-wage
service industry workers, low fixed-income seniors,
single parents and those facing a sudden life crisis
(divorce, abandonment, abuse, death in the family, major
medical issue, etc.).
In today’s
disastrous economic climate, however, many clients are
newly unemployed middle-class wage earners who have
exhausted their personal resources, are desperate and
now need help. Over the
past two years, HOH has seen a significant increase in
the number of individuals and families in Martin County
requiring financial assistance.
In 2007,
328 Martin County families were helped with $122,273.
Through October 2008, the program had helped 321
families and individuals with about $78,369 in emergency
financial assistance.
Over the
past two years, HOH could only help about 40 percent of
those requesting assistance because of limited funds.
Donations have not been keeping pace with the rising
call for services as the economy has worsened.
Read more about the EFA program >>
House of Hope
launched a case management
program in 2008 to help guide people who have the
potential to become economically
independent and self-reliant. A case manager is working
with many individuals to help them access the resources
and training they need to succeed and bring stability to
their lives.
In autumn
2009, House of Hope was awarded a grant to expand case
management services in Martin County. The Community Services
Block Grant is funded through the America Reinvestment and
Recovery Act (the federal stimulus packages). The funding
totals $146,855 for the first year and is the largest grant
HOH has ever received.
The grant
provides for the employment of two case workers to address
the needs of low-income people -- especially in regard to
their maintaining employment and/or increase their
opportunities for employment. The grant also includes
funding to support clients' ability to get employed or
remain employed.
Expanding case
management services is a major part of House of Hope's
strategic plan in order to help people achieve economic
stability and self-reliance.
House of
Hope also is partnering with the Florida Atlantic
University School of Social Work, which provide student interns to help
with case management. The HOH case manager, who has a
master's degree in social work (MSW), supervises and
mentors the interns throughout their semester of
service.
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