SOS News and Views

According to an article that appeared in the May 12 issue of Crain's Detroit Business, the Red Cross may leave to United Way to raise its own money because of recent funding cuts.

United Way funding has decreased. Many agencies are now having to look to other funding sources. As the article says,

"United Way's goal is to be as effective as it can with declining resources, which is why it narrowed its focus to three areas: educational preparedness, basic needs and financial stability, said Kelly Major Green, vice president of marketing and brand experience."

The change in their funding model has impacted many agencies who now may not meet their three focus areas.

So what does this mean?
What other options are there for the Red Cross and other nonprofits in similar situations?

Human service non-profit in our area are going to need community support now more than ever. Even if funding is cut - the services and programs offered by the non-profits in our community are still of great value and are needed.

Here are some other parts of the article:

"United Way for Southeastern Michigan could find itself competing against one of its largest member agency for donations.

The American Red Cross, Southeastern Michigan Chapter is considering separating from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan so it can raise more money on its own to offset an anticipated cut of at least $2 million of its $2.6 million in annual United Way funding.

The cut represents 22 percent of its annual budget, which stands at about $9 million for fiscal 2008 ending June 30...."

The Junior League of Ann Arbor has awarded SOS Community Services with a three year grant totaling $10,000 and volunteer support for its Playing…Learning…Growing program.

SOS Playing…Learning…Growing is based on its nationally recognized Parents as Teachers program. Playing…Learning…Growing is a parent education and family support program for homeless families with infant, toddler, and pre-school children. Parents are supported by parent educators trained to translate scientific information on early brain development into specific when, what, how and why advice for families. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child's language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills.

"The Junior League is so pleased to be partnering with SOS Community Services by offering, not only $10,000 in financial support, but the invaluable support of our volunteer power,” said Heidi Nelson, president. “For 25 years, the Junior League of Ann Arbor has been promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action of trained volunteers - and we have enjoyed some incredible collaborations along the way - this one is no different. As we approach this 3 year partnership with SOS Community Services, we are willing and ready to do all we can to improve the lives of homeless families through our involvement in the Parents as Teachers Program playgroups and establishment of reading/activities for children while their parents wait for access to the Food Distribution Site.”

Junior League volunteers will support the efforts of homeless parents to raise their children for success in school and life by volunteering with SOS’s Parents As Teachers program. Junior League volunteers will work one-on-one with homeless children and parents, develop and distribute a parenting newsletter for homeless families, visit homeless parents in their homes or shelters to offer support, prepare nutritious meals, recruit other volunteers to work with homeless families, and more.

Faye Askew-King, Director of Programs and Services at SOS Community Services has been named the recipient of the Lisa Putnam Award by the Michigan chapter of the National Association for Social Workers (NASW).

The Lisa Putnam Award recognizes excellence in child welfare and honors a different social worker each year for longevity of service and a commitment to children and families. Faye was nominated by Marjorie Ziefert, head of the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University, and was chosen from a pool of nominees from across the state. The award will be presented at the NASW Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 15, in Lansing.

Faye Askew-King MSW, ACSW, LMSW leads and coordinates services that reach more than 9,000 people annually in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Since she came to SOS in 1993, Faye has expanded all of SOS’s programs for children, including the introduction of a research-based prevention program for homeless youth called Early Risers and a nationally-recognized “Parents as Teachers” program.

She also led the creation of the SOS Consumer Advisory Board that advises SOS staff and board members on program policy and successfully advocates for homeless families at the county and state levels. She expanded SOS’s employability support services and initiated a Women’s Leadership Training program to help homeless mothers improve their self-confidence and social skills.

It's tax day! After the frenzy to finish filing, it seems like many people begin thinking about what they plan to do with their return. An article that appeared today in The Grand Rapids Press addresses the $165 billion stimulus rebate package.

Interestingly enough, it seems that much of these funds will go directly into people's everyday expenses. It seems that many people will use this extra money to help pay for rent, food, car payments and other bills, rather than large ticket items.

So many individuals and families on a daily basis don't have the luxury to spend money on luxury items. The homeless families and individuals in our community often have to make decisions about what bills they can pay, not what bills they have to pay. It's important to recognize these families and individuals, who have a hard time getting by, even when the economy isn't slow.

Here's an excerpt from the Grand Rapids Press that I found interesting:
"But neither [Carol or Gary Schroeder] expect the $165 billion stimulus rebate package passed by Congress in February to do much for an economy many experts say already is in recession.

"It's not going to help the nation, period," Carol Schroeder said.

Most people who pay federal income tax will get up to $600 for individuals, or as much as $1,200 for married couples, with an additional $300 per child.

Those with at least $3,000 of income or Social Security payments are eligible for $300 credits.

The amounts begin to phase out for incomes of more than $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples who file jointly.

The theory of the stimulus is simple: Taxpayers will use their rebates to make big-ticket purchases they might otherwise defer, items such as televisions or refrigerators. That will give the economy a quick boost and help avoid a serious downturn.

But many in line for rebates, especially the $300 variety, are too squeezed to think about that. At Clancy Street Ministries in Grand Rapids, economic program coordinator Stephanie Worden said a consumer splurge is about the last thing on the mind of most of the clients she sees.

She estimates a fourth of the 400 returns she helped prepare this year were residents filing just for the $300 rebate.

"Most of the people are looking to pay bills and pay rent. There's a lot of people talking about putting money into their vehicles," Worden said.

As for a surge in consumer purchases, Worden said, "I don't think that's going to happen in this state."

This article was posted in the Ann Arbor News on Sunday (4/6/08).

Here are some of the hard facts from the article

*** "Last year, 1,151 homes went through foreclosure in Washtenaw County, compared to 703 in 2006. Foreclosures numbered 433 in 2005; 288 in 2004; and 265 in 2003.
So far this year, 355 homes have been auctioned at the sheriff's sale.

In Livingston County, those figures were 1,029 last year, compared to 616, 280, 259, and 213 in previous years. In the first three months of 2008, 324 homes have been auctioned."

*** "Special Deputy Dave Woodside is kept busy these days posting eviction notices on properties under foreclosure.'It's ugly out here,' he said.

After the eviction writ is posted, Washtenaw County residents have 24 hours to vacate the premises, although 90 percent of the time, they've already left, Woodside said. People often ask Woodside if his is a depressing job.

"I've been in law enforcement for 36 years, and I've learned there's always two sides to a story,' he said. 'There are those who lose their jobs and then lose their houses, and that's sad. But I'd say that better than 50 percent of the time, they had options. They made life choices.'"

----

What is the reason for the increase in almost 450 homes going through foreclosure in 2007, as compared to 2006 in Washtenaw County? These figures confirm the importance of organizations like SOS Community Services. If more families and individuals will be forced out of their homes through foreclosure, one can only imagine that the homeless populations is also increasing each year.

Deputy Woodside says that individuals often times had options before foreclosure. Maybe instead of paying the mortgage they had to pay for food, heat, medicine or education. Everyone may have a different story on how they got where they did, but the important thing to recognize is that when someone gets to a point where they may lose their housing and not have a lot of options - it is a good thing to know where to turn.

SOS Community Services offers programs/services to help families get back on their feet. Some of the programs they offer that may be especially beneficial for those who are on verge of foreclosure and/or other housing crisis include:

• Short-term housing crisis counseling and case management
• Eviction prevention
• Utility assistance
• Distribution of emergency food and personal hygiene items
• Short-term shelter for homeless families and children
• Subsidized transitional housing and supportive services for homeless families
• Life skills training

"Homelessness is an issue that is not going away. It needs to stay in the forefront of decision-making of both social service agencies and politicians."

"That person we see sleeping on a park bench in the summer or meandering in a train station trying to stay warm in the winter is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter.

While the homeless individuals counted last month [2/12/07] make up just 0.0009 of the county’s population, they cannot be forgotten. They do exist – and they do need our help."

~From the Northwest Herald (McHenry County, IL)

Found these specific quotations from the article Ways to help the homeless very powerful. While the article is outdated it has a very interesting stream of comments from individuals about their feelings, experiences and reactions to homelessness.

Even if the article is dated - it does have some very relevant (and timeless) comments.

By Thelma Gutierrez and Wayne DrashCNN

ALTADENA, California (CNN) -- When she was laid off in February, Patricia Guerrero was making $70,000 a year. Weeks later, with bills piling up and in need of food for her family, this middle-class mother did something she never thought she would do: She went to a food bank.

You can read the rest of this article by following this link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/27/foodbank.family/index.html