United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, Presented $200,000 of Neighbors Helping Neighbors Grants to Community Organizations

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, Presented $200,000 of
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Grants to Community Organizations

Funds help provide a safety net to Connecticut residents who struggle to afford basic necessities.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County Neighbors Helping Neighbors grants of $200,000 provide local organizations with funding to address the struggle facing so many households in Coastal Fairfield County with basic needs expenses.  

The program started in 2008 when the economic recession sharply increased the number of households challenged to stay financially stable due to loss of a job.  At that time, local organizations providing food assistance and emergency assistance saw a sharp increase in need.  The A.L.I.C.E. report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) published in 2014 highlighted this growing population.  ALICE households generally have to make tough choices when deciding what bills to pay, which sometimes causes them to go without essential items like healthy food and critical medications.

Federal funds are available but often these households have income levels that don’t make them accessible. ALICE families earn more than the federal poverty level but less than the Household Survival Budget of $64,689 for a family of four and $21,944 for an individual as identified in the ALICE report. For local organizations striving to assist families that often fall through the eligibility gap, Neighbors Helping Neighbors grant funding provides the flexibility they need to assist more children and families.  

“These grants ensure that struggling families can pay the rent and avoid homelessness, have heat in the winter and keep the lights on year round and have enough food to reach the end of the month and not be hungry, said Cathy DeCesare, Chief Strategic Officer, Community Impact Lead. “We know that the stress and challenges of financial insecurity can cause long-term health issues especially for children. When children do not have stable housing, nutritious food or enough food, they struggle to learn and achieve in school, and academic achievement is a critical marker in breaking the cycle of poverty.”  

Organizations receiving 2016 Neighbors Helping Neighbors grants include:
Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc. (ABCD) - Rent / Utility Assistance program
Alpha Community Services YMCA - Families in Transition program
Bridgeport Rescue Mission - Food Outreach Programs
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. - The Thomas Merton Center
Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport – Bridgeport Farmers Market / SNAP Incentive program and nutrition outreach, Hunger Outreach program, Janus Center for Youth in Crisis
Fairfield Department of Human Services - Housing Assistance for Families in Need
Green Village Initiative – Reservoir Community Farm
Homes with Hope – Bacharach Community
LifeBridge Community Services – The Community Closet
Town of Monroe - Food Pantry and Farmer’s Market Voucher program
Open Door Shelter - Family Shelter
Operation Hope of Fairfield Inc. - Shelter for Homeless Families and Children
Park City Initiative Corp. - Bishop Jean Williams Food Pantry
Person-to-Person - Food Pantry
Sterling House Community Center - Resource Connection program/ Food Pantry
Summerfield United Methodist Church - Light on the Hill Food Pantry

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is: “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives”. Our vision is that all at risk children in Coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life.  United Way of Coastal Fairfield County serves the towns of Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Westport, Trumbull, Easton, Monroe, Weston, Norwalk, Wilton, New Canaan and Darien.  Find out more at our website at www.unitedwaycfc.org, and follow us on social media @UWCFC.

 

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Submitted by Wilton, CT

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