Find church assistance programs.

Churches and parishes across the nation, of all religions, report increasing cases of members as well as strangers seeking rent help, help with food, utility bill payments, health and medical care, and more. And churches are increasing their assistance programs to help meet the need. At some congregations across the country, requests for benevolence are up 25 percent or more since last year, a recent survey by The Christian Chronicle discovered.

Some examples and stories across the nation, as well as where to go to get help, include :

The Sunny Hills church in Fullerton, California was approached by a young father of three who recently lost his job, and was faced with the prospect of losing his apartment due to eviction. The church gave him over $700 to help pay the rent, and the money was also to be used for car repairs.

Patrick Odum, who is the minister of the Northwest church in Chicago, said that they are also seeing a comparable increase in the number of families needing assistance with numerous bills and expenses.

Churches and benevolence ministry leaders say they are eager to provide care, feed, clothe and provide housing or grants for most needs out there. Churches are now even helping people pay off debt.

Churches are also great places to turn to for referrals to other organization. They can direct you to charities, community action agencies, state and local government programs, and more. Click here for government and other assistance programs.
 

Many people who are quick to ask for assistance, such as rent or medical care, are generally poor decision makers, poor money managers, and have become so dependent on government aid, charities, agencies, and churches that they don’t know how to take steps to help themselves so the programs in place do not help them as much.

The Gateway church in Pensacola, Florida is flooded with requests for food and clothing, and they work with other agencies, churches and charities to distribute as well as monitor who receives aid.

If a family seeks food, rent help, utility bill assistance, or shelter, the University church in the Abilene, Texas, area provides it to the needy. Find other ways to get electric bill help. More.

Some churches are putting in place plans to ensure the correct people get aid. Walled Lake church and other congregations across the country have developed policies, including application forms, targeted at screening out those who prey on various churches’ goodwill. Typically, these forms and applications require candidates to provide documentation showing they have a financial condition or emergency, such as a pay stub, utility bill, or driver’s license to verify their address.

The Western Hills church in Fort Worth, Texas, the food bank opens from 4 to 7 p.m. each Thursday to provide free food. Last fall, this church started offering a Bible study at 3 p.m. as well, which is before the pantry opens. While the bible study is not a requirement to receive help or aid, showing up for the study allows those in need to claim an early place in line for the free food and food assistance.