A home is a safe haven. It’s a comfort zone where families can snuggle up together, enjoy laughs and make memories. It’s a stable foundation on which to build a future.
While a home is important, it is also the largest single expenditure for most households, especially with housing costs on the rise. When financial burdens such as job loss, illness or disability occur, paying a mortgage or rent is often impossible while trying to cover basic needs such as food, transportation, and childcare. An unexpected crisis can lead to eviction; and that can be an overwhelming challenge to overcome.
The Lasting Effects of Losing a Home
For families, eviction can have traumatic impact on mental and financial well-being. The instability of sleeping in shelters or motels can make it difficult for children to concentrate in school, and parents can have an extremely hard time getting ready for work or preparing for job interviews while living out of a suitcase. Homelessness is also known to cause depression, as both parents and children struggle to cope with the guilt and shame often associated with losing a home. And because eviction stays on a credit report for seven years, it’s often hard to find housing again after regaining financial stability. Even beyond seven years, some landlords refuse to rent to anyone who has ever had an eviction. It’s a vicious circle that many in unfortunate situations go through.
Circle of Concern Works to Prevent Eviction
When clients come to our food pantry, they are often just weeks away from being unable to pay for other necessities beyond food. First, it may be a car payment, then a utility bill, and rent and mortgage funds are not far behind. Through generous donations from individuals and businesses in our community, we are able to offer emergency financial assistance to help qualifying clients pay utility bills, stay in their homes, and address other short-term immediate needs. We also offer financial mentoring and guidance to help clients avoid eviction. Whether it’s securing a second job, accessing other resources, down-sizing to a smaller apartment or home or negotiating with creditors, our case workers can help our client families to strategize the best course of action. Keeping families in safe, secure housing is critical.
How You Can Help
Short-term financial assistance for our clients is only available as funds allow. If you would like to help us keep families in their own homes, please know that eighty-four cents of every dollar you donate directly supports client programs and services. To make a donation, click here or mail a check to:
Circle of Concern
112 St. Louis Avenue
P.O. Box 444
Valley Park, MO 63088
