UW assists families at risk to be homeless

(Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories highlighting some of the area agencies assisted by the United Way of Jefferson County. Each of the agencies featured on Mondays will receive aid from the United Way's 2010 Live United campaign.)

STEUBENVILLE - Barb Thompson is well aware of the individuals and families who face living without a home in Jefferson County.

The chief executive officer of the Jefferson County Community Action Council works daily at balancing numbers and her budget to maintain the agency's Families at Risk of Homelessness.

"The United Way dollars we receive every year are used exclusively for this program and in this case every dollar counts. We have families in the at-risk program that run the gamut from the underemployed to families who may have had major car problems and have to decide between paying their rent or fixing their vehicle. It can often be a Catch 22 for these families who are on the edge of eviction," explained Thompson.

"Many families in our county are just a half step ahead of homelessness. They may be employed at a minimum wage job that doesn't provide health care. So they are constantly balancing their medications, their rent or house mortgages or making that vehicle repair so they can keep their job," continued Thompson.

"The Community Action Council looks at the total picture. In addition to help with a rent payment there may be additional assistance needed by a particular family," noted Thompson.

"The United Way has been very generous in supporting our endeavors at the CAC. We currently receive $19,000 from the United Way allocations but in addition to the money the United Way also gives us some wiggle room in our work," said Thompson.

"We carefully follow the income guidelines with our United Way money but there are occasions when we try to look beyond the guidelines with our clients. We may have a mother who has tried to give her son a new bicycle for Christmas. It may be the only gift that child will receive for Christmas, and we try to understand that as we make our determination in helping our clients," explained Thompson.

"We see families trying to provide for their children in small and simple ways. They aren't buying designer clothes for their kids but are trying to make sure their children have a roof over their head, enough to eat and a decent Christmas," Thompson said.

"There are no stereotypical clients in our program. Some people may be first-time applicants. We really don't see what has been termed generational welfare cases. We see more people who are trying to work through their issues, and that's where the United Way meets the needs in our county," declared Thompson.

"Kudos to our area landlords because most of them are willing to work with their tenants and with us as we try to arrive at a solution," added Thompson.

"The United Way has been helping us with Families at Risk of Homelessness for about 15 years now. We have assisted 44 families so far this year, and that averages out to $430 a family. (It's) not a lot of money but it is enough to keep these struggling families in a home and not living in a car or in a shelter," she added.

The local United Way's 2010 Live United campaign has a $430,000 goal, which aids 19 area agencies.

Donations to the United Way can be sent to 501 Washington St., Steubenville, OH 43952. To reach the United Way, call (740) 284-9000.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)