Faith Emergency Fund assistance programs in Chester County.
At risk residents of Chester County can call upon Faith Emergency Fund for support. The charity and its staff will do their best in an effort to help qualified low to moderate income families with their bills and basic needs, and there may be everything from food to shelter and thrift stores available. They help people that do not qualify for other non-profit or government benefits. Another goal of Faith Emergency Fund is to provide a hand-up to clients, and this is met from job placement and related services.
Find free food, financial help, and basic needs
Faith Emergency Fund provides food and hot meals year round for low income families, seniors, and children from the Community Cupboard. There are several pantries and soup kitchens available for struggling residents to ensure they receive free groceries, fresh food, baby items and other things required to meet their needs of daily living. Other goods from the cupboard include personal care and housekeeping supplies, that are not paid for by SNAP food stamps, and free gift certificates or vouchers.
Volunteers from local churches or charities may coordinate home meal and grocery delivery, and this service may be possible for seniors who are homebound in the Chester area. Potential clients may need to make an appointment depending on demand and intake at the time of inquiry. Or find other food pantries and soup kitchens in Chester County.
When available, Faith Emergency Fund may be able to assist with rent and housing issues for low-income, at risk individuals and families. If you are facing an eviction or unable to find money for paying rent or energy bills, the non-profit may have funding available to assist with these problems.
While this is an option, please be aware funding and resources are very limited and the demand is very high in West Chester. When money is available, it may be used for emergency rent payments or housing deposits for homeless people. There are other case management housing services available for those struggling in the state of Pennsylvania, even including partnerships with free lawyers in Pennsylvania to stop evictions. The church based groups ability to provide financial aid depends on charitable donations from the community, so please give back.
Forms of housing that are local to the region may be shelters, lodges or designated transitional housing programs. These will offer a solution for families that are struggling. Transitional housing is available for recently evicted people who need temporary shelter which often helps them have the opportunity to find permanent housing.\
For survivors of domestic violence, children, single parents or those struggling with substance abuse issues, specialty shelters are available. Within these units, counseling services are typically provided as well. The Faith Emergency Fund and its churches often works with other groups in Chester County to ensure individuals and families have the opportunity to benefit from counseling.
Thrift stores from Faith Emergency Fund and its partners sell various household items and clothing for in-need, struggling, low-income individuals and families. Items available in the location are typically gently used and sold at reduced prices to anyone residing within the community. People affected harshly by disaster or living with a low-income, a voucher may be issued so the item is in effect free to them. A formal request for a voucher must be submitted as well as complete follow through with the application process.
In addition tho that support, there may be free winter clothing to children living in low-income, at-risk households. This program is essential during bitterly cold winter months in Pennsylvania, especially when expenses increase with holiday gifting and utility bills. Items for young children, teenagers or students in the form of new gloves, snow boots, hats and winter coats are available.
Christmas is a stressful time for local families trying to make the holiday a special time for their families when budgets are already restricted and tight. Faith Emergency Fund and its partners may be able to offer assistance for these in-need families in the form of free toys, clothing, presents, meals and other gifts they can give to their children. Seniors may also be eligible for this program.
Social services and free counseling from Faith Emergency Fund
A key to exiting poverty is steady, sustainable employment. This often leads to an increase in income which is the core of a family unit maintaining its stability. Faith Emergency Fund offers to help at-risk, in-need individuals find a job or improve their education as part of their Social Services program. Case managers will also advocate and help clients learn skills to find employment in the future.
This is done as a partnership. Working with a case worker, individuals are assisted in finding a job, often through resume review workshops or increasing computer literacy skills. For assistance finding employment in Chester County, Pennsylvania, the charity can be an option for this.
Several other housing programs also offer the opportunity for individuals to attend classes to gain necessary skills and financial counseling. These workshops are the core of leading an at-risk person to a life of stability and self-reliance. At the charity, the goal is to teach people the appropriate life skills and training. This includes, but is not limited to, anger management, self-esteem classes, GED completion, access to low cost child-care, budgeting, parenting and job placement for the future.
Applying for programs in Chester County from Faith
For more information, call the Emergency Fund at 484-324-8492. As noted, they provide aid as a last resort, and the address is 212 S. High St., West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382.
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