Ina & Murray Pitt IMPACT REPORT 2021
YOU WANT TO BE THE PEBBLE IN THE POND THAT CREATES THE RIPPLE FOR
change. --TIM COOK APPLE CEO
Jewish Family Service helps those in our community who are experiencing life’s most challenging moments. Through the generosity of the Ina and Murray Pitt fund, a number of clients facing otherwise insurmountable difficulties were assisted by JFS over the past year. When an individual or family comes to JFS for help, they are most likely facing a crisis or a difficult season of life. Families may encounter job loss, divorce, domestic violence, a serious health condition or the death of a loved one. Any of these situations could cause dysfunction to the point where a family cannot manage as they once used to. For individuals living paycheck to paycheck, unbudgeted expenses such as a car repair, illness or increase in utility bills, can prove disastrous. Many of those who seek help at JFS may earn just enough to disqualify them from community programs, but not enough to allow any savings. Family Support Services (FSS) offers individualized case management to help these individuals and families maximize their resources to meet their basic needs and gain self-sufficiency. The FSS team consists of five social workers, a bilingual support specialist, two social work supervisors and a director. Our staff takes a collaborative approach when working with clients and empowers them to identify goals and develop
a personal plan of action. The goal of FSS is to help clients move past their crisis and into a space where they feel autonomy and control over their situation. FSS social workers play the role of “quarterback” helping to identify, connect and facilitate access to community organizations and resources. They also act as liaisons with other agency professionals to reduce barriers and increase accessibility for clients. Emergency financial assistance (EFA) is distributed in conjunction with the goals identified in the personal action plan. Social workers ensure that clients have their basic needs met, including a stable place to live, food for their family, utilities and transportation. JFS is the only service provider in the region with a significant flexible fund that can be used to address needs for which there are no other resources. Social workers also provide a significant amount of supportive counseling and crisis intervention to address emotional and mental health needs. The stress and anxiety that JFS clients experience when unable to meet their basic needs often impairs their ability to function through a crisis. JFS provides the safety net and support our clients need to navigate toward growth. Our social workers are attentive, responsive, and always act to protect the dignity of each client.
YOUR IMPACT
Dana is a single mother with one child. She came to JFS for assistance fleeing a domestic violence relationship. Through case management services, Dana was able to leave her abuser and find safe and stable housing for herself and her daughter. She quickly started a new job so that she could ensure that rent and bills were paid and that her child would be taken care of. Two weeks after starting her new job, Dana’s car broke down and it was unsafe to drive. Dana did not have the funds to fix it. JFS assisted by paying for the car repairs so that Dana could continue to get to work. Once she is able to work more, Dana will be able to budget and save money to avoid future financial stress.
Sara contracted COVID-19 while pregnant with her sixth child. After the birth of her baby girl, Sara was diagnosed with postpartum depression, along with “long” COVID-19 symptoms, which forced her to take an unpaid leave from her job teaching at a local school. Sara came to JFS for assistance, as she felt unable to manage her home while taking care of her family. JFS helped Sara access state benefits and available community resources to manage her home and finances while she is recovering. JFS was able to provide short-term relief for Sara by hiring a cleaning service to help get her household back in order while she focused on getting the medical care she needed and taking care of her new baby.
Samuel struggled with his mental health all his adult life. This greatly impacted his ability to maintain employment and relationships, causing him to move in with his father. After Samuel’s father passed away, he was left without a daily purpose or a place to live after other family members evicted him from his father’s home. JFS helped Samuel navigate the eviction process while working to find him safe housing. JFS provided Samuel with a hotel room until he was able to secure a new apartment. The security and reassurance he felt by being able to stay in a safe place was a tremendous gift as he focused on his mental health recovery.
Ed
came to JFS after experiencing extreme financial hardship
in part due to the pandemic. Ed and his wife both lost their jobs during the pandemic and have been struggling to make ends meet. They also had two children in the household: a toddler and an infant. Prior to contacting JFS, Ed and his family lost their housing and had been living at motels. The family had run out of funds. JFS assisted by paying for their motel room so that the family would not be homeless while they worked towards becoming financially stable and securely housed. Through their work with a Family Support Services social worker, Ed applied for Social Security Disability and his wife accessed unemployment benefits until she found a job. JFS connected the family with housing resources and, eventually, the family was able to move into an affordable apartment.
YOUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
JANUARY 1, 2021 - DECEMBER 31, 2021 NUMBER SERVED
• 420 distinct households received services from FSS
LENGTH OF SERVICE
• 40% (169/420) in program for 2 or more years • 20% (83/420) in program between 1 and 2 years • 33% (138/420) in program between 6 months and 1 year • 7% (30/420) in program for 6 months or less
DEMOGRAPHICS
• 61% (257/420) are Jewish • 322 are Female • 98 are Male
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED: Distinct Count of Households: 282 Number of People Helped: 954
AREAS OF SUPPORT RESOURCES PROVIDED
# OF NUMBER OF DISTRIBUTIONS
FUNDS SPENT
119 240
1,040 2,168
$36,000 $217,000
Shelter
64
102
$88,000
Utilities
51
71
$32,000
Other needs to support families
84
133
$27,000
HOUSEHOLDS ASSISTED
Transportation Food
TOTAL AMOUNT
$400,000
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: • 83% of clients discharged from service were identified as having achieved or partially achieved their goals. • 86% of clients reported that they have been given resources and information to improve their life situation. • 75% of clients reported that the assistance they received from FSS had a positive impact on their ability to maintain their independence. • 86% of clients who received services from FSS had a positive impact on their outlook of life. • 75% of clients who received assistance from FSS reported a positive impact on their health. • 82% of clients who received assistance from FSS reported a positive impact on their ability to take care of their household needs.