The need is great, but you can help
June 3rd, 2008
By Gloria Echols
From The Reporter
In difficult times like these, we too, here at Community Housing Services, are reminded of our gratitude and humility.
On a daily basis, we read or hear of the economic crisis in our country. We also hear about the struggles faced by many families just to survive.
All too often, the faces of those who are struggling are those that are young or elderly. Some of our most vulnerable citizens are forced to do more with less and finding that the dollar, no matter how wisely spent, does not stretch to provide even the barest of essentials.
As reported in the media, more new families are continuing to visit local food banks and soup kitchens, more families are seeking help with utility bills to prevent shut-off, more homeowners are experiencing the possibility of foreclosures, and the possibility of becoming homeless.
Sadly, more and more individuals who once held secure employment are forced to stand in unemployment lines. Even the once comfortable position felt by many members of the middle class is beginning to erode, ever drawing closer the gap between comfort and sustenance.
The unfortunate reality is that individuals falling in a seemingly comfortable bracket are often overlooked when problems hit because agencies are not yet equipped to handle this portion of the population... because they never had to before.
Here is a case of one such family that has fallen victim to an uncertain economy and an ill-equipped system:
For the last few months I have wondered if anyone ever notices how the economy has affected the average everyday family. I am a married woman with two children in college, fighting to save my home from foreclosure, and searching every day for employment.
Within the last six months my family has been faced with a multitude of challenges. Recently our family has experienced job loss, physical illness and the possible foreclosure of our home. We are a suburban, working class, intact family facing the fear of homelessness.
What have I come to realize? There is no assistance for those in the "gray area." What's the gray area, you ask? It's the place where your family makes too little money to qualify for mortgage assistance, and too much to qualify for public assistance.
It's the place where you're not quite qualified enough for a management position, but overqualified for line staff. The gray area is a place where you decide whether or not you get your expired automobile inspected or pay for gas so that you can continue to look for employment.
This has been my life for the last few months. When will someone notice how the economy has impacted housing concerns of the average family? When will they realize that we are all possibly one paycheck away from homelessness?
Housing concerns need to be an important focus in our community. Because of my background in social services and support from my local housing agency, my family will make it through this crisis; but others are not so fortunate. Without the ability to navigate the complex maze of social services in Pennsylvania and because of the lack of funds given to those agencies, many everyday families experience the threat of homelessness.
The pressure is being felt by more and more of our population scattered all across the socioeconomic strata; those who have the least are feeling most of the pain.
The issue of domestic violence continues to increase and displace families. Added to this challenge is the fact that the need for safe and affordable housing continues.
The individuals who are low income are faced with the decision of having to choose what area of necessity they will have to sacrifice to try to stay afloat.
We witness daily the heartbreak of some of our homeless that come to CHS to find a safe place to sleep between job shifts.
With a sagging economy, who will help with the needed affordable housing or the increased need for shelter?
Yet, in the midst of all these reports of adversity, there is hope and we are grateful to those who continue to invest in the future of Montgomery County residents by granting additional dollars to Community Housing Services which assist in the continuation of programs that provide housing and support services.
We are grateful to the following for their financial assistance: Barra Foundation, Foujay Foundation, Patricia Kind Family Foundation for a three-year grant, W.W. Smith Charitable Trust, numerous religious institutions, CADCOM and many individuals that allow us to ease the hardships of so many in need.
We also want to thank the many civic groups, postal employees, Merck employees and other volunteers for helping us feed the poor and beautify our units, and those who lend many hands of kindness to assist with the odds and ends that need to be done here.
It is our belief that this support not only gives us hope for the future, but it also suggests that there are those who remember the following: "if you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it to me."
Again, we are grateful.
Gloria Echols is executive director of Community Housing Services in Lansdale.