Improving Daily Lives
August 24, 2007
Lansdale - Community Housing Services is $10,000 closer to preventing homelessness and improving daily lives of the less fortunate thanks to its acceptance of a community grant.
"We will use it for rental assistance, emergency shelter assistance and utilities assistance, which wil help if someone is behind in utility bills," Community Housing Services Executive Director Gloria Echols said. "It certainly was a need and we are always in need of additional dollars to help provide assistance to people in our own community."
The $10,000 grant comes from the Stuart Fund, managed by St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Glenside.
George Stuart was a member of the church who attended the 8 a.m. Sunday service every week. He died in October 2003 and left $400,000 in his will to the church to be used to establish a fund for outreach.
"It's as simple as that," St. Peter's Episcopal Church Business Manager Mike Sayer said. "It's in his words in his will that this fund be used for outreach within a 25-mile radius of the church."
There is a five=year time limit on the funds, with 20 percent dispersed each year over five years.
With the $400,000 principal, it means $80,000 given away each year to groups that apply for it.
Grants are applied for and are accepted until the end of April.
"Any organization in need in the area can apply for it," Sayer said. "It is split among many."
Community Housing, at 311 N. Broad St., Lansdale, is one of eight groups that will benefit from this year's funding.
"It's a wonderful thing," Sayer said. "It is affecting countless lives, this simple gesture, and it's been incredible."
Community Housing Services Board President John Strader applied for the fund, Echols said, and this is the first year the organization has applied for it.
"If there's someone that could have fallen behind on payments due to an illness or loss of job, we might be able to help them with the situation," Echols said. "It certainly helps those to help us prevent homelessness."
The work toward preventing homelessness locally is a continuing need, she said. Additiona dollars will help with the program.
At this time, Community Housing Services is in desperate need of food for its cupboard.
"Our cupboard is empty and we are in need of food, just like other groups who are facing the same situation," Echols said. "They can bring in non-perishables like canned foods or food from the garden. Anything is deeply appreciated."
Community Housing Services is about to embark on its annual appeal campaign. It hopes to raise $100,000 in order to help with ongoing services. The Lansdale-based group will send letters out to residents and busineses asking for any sort of donation.
Echols said a campaign happened two years ago where $13,000 was raised. She would love it if it could be an annual thing.
"I think if people can understand what we are trying to do as an agency, I think they will donate," she said.
The organization, located at 311 North Broad St., tries to prevent homelessness in its daily efforts. They will put people up in motels because there are no shelters available in the immediate area, Echols said.
The group also runs domestic violence programs, case management and budget counseling.
Ezra House, located at 337 North Broad St., is a transitional housing program for single homeless men managed by Community Housing Services. Unfortunately, there is no room at Ezra House and Community Housing can do nothing but refer men to local rooming houses.
There is no single homeless women's shelter managed by Community Housing Services, and that is something Echols wants to change. As of now, any single homeless women seeking shelter are referred to local rooming houses.
She said even the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center, or CHOC, at Norristown State Hospital Building 53 has a waiting list, and it is facing the same situation with not enough accommodations for the homeless.
"I do not see homelessness decreasing at all," she said. "On a daily basis, we see several men that could use Ezra House if they are willing to stick to the program. We don't have space for single women either, and that is a need in the community."
To donate to Community Housing Services, call (215) 362-5250 or visit the CHS donations page.