Peninsula Home Fund begins 2009 drive today
.
Home Fund: 'Hand up, not a handout'
FROM JAN. 1 through Nov. 23, Peninsula Daily News' Peninsula Home Fund helped 1,782 families and households -- about 3,500 individuals -- in Jefferson and Clallam counties, spending $161,651 of the $198,015.03 collected in 2008.
Because of the bad economy and heavy demands this year -- rental assistance; help with energy bills; fuel assistance for work and medical needs; dental care and prescription drug assistance -- the fund is expected to spend the entire $198,015 before Dec. 31.
With every dollar donated, 100 percent going directly to assist those in need -- there are no deductions of any kind for costs -- the Peninsula Home Fund's emphasis is on making sure no one falls through the cracks during the most demanding time of the year -- winter.
The Peninsula Home Fund is disbursed by case managers at OlyCAP -- nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula -- which screens the applicants and administers the fund for the PDN.
They focus on a "hand up, not a handout."
Every instance of assistance is designed to help get an individual or family back on the path to self-sufficiency.
OlyCAP case managers work with individuals or families to develop life-changing plans to become financially stable.
The goal -- avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
More demand this year
Said Tim Hockett, executive director of OlyCAP:
"While we have all been hurt by the downturn in the economy, people at the bottom of the economic scale are suffering most.
"Clearly there has been no time in the last 20 years when the Peninsula Home Fund was more needed.
"OlyCAP has seen an increase in new clients and also many people returning for any help they can get.
"It's sad to see folks working hard but unable to make ends meet.
"Health care costs are not the only culprit.
"Fuel costs are still weighing heavily on low-income families.
"Despite the federal stimulus package, and many other governmental interventions, there is a considerable unmet need among our neighbors for just the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and access to medical attention.
"One interesting phenomenon this year has been the grass-roots efforts to make living more simple and less expensive here on the Peninsula.
"Community gardens are multiplying, providing food for individual families as well as food banks and programs like senior nutrition.
"Ride-sharing and our transit system are becoming much more popular.
"Neighbors helping neighbors is coming back into fashion."
And, on top of all this, "the Peninsula Home Fund is one of the best investments in strengthening the community."
How it's been spent
A brief summary of 2009 Peninsula Home Fund assistance through Nov. 23 (by families or households served, and the dollar amount):
• Rental assistance -- 315; $51,243.
• Energy assistance -- 286; $38,155.
• Medical and dental care -- 165; $11,689.
• Public transportation SEmD172; $7,566.
• Prescriptions/lab expense assistance -- 139; $7,133.
• Car repair expense -- 36; $6,766.
• Emergency assistance -- 75; $6,011.
• Utility assistance (water, garbage, sewer) -- 36; $4,740.
• Household furnishings and supplies -- 67; $4,456.
• Vehicle fuel expense, medical -- 100; $3,987.
• Clothing, adult -- 49; $2,931.
• Vehicle fuel expense, employment -- 71; $2,492.
• Groceries -- 34; $2,410.
• Personal care/hygiene expense -- 73; $2,193.
• Laundry -- 51; $2,042.
• Clothing, child -- 38; $2,292.
• Emergency housing and temporary shelter -- 13; $1,398.
• Crisis intervention -- 4; $852.
• Child care -- 15; $809.
• Auto insurance -- 5; $561.
• Testing, certification -- 10; $360.
• Uniforms/special clothing -- 4; $311.
• Tools/Equipment -- 3; $264.
• Mortgage assistance -- 1; $200.
• Relocation assistance -- 4; $175.
• Telephone assistance -- 3; $156.
• Camping equipment SEmD3; $125.
• School fees -- 3; $123.
• School books/supplies -- 3; $95.
• Licenses/fees -- 2; $73.
• Job search assistance -- 2; $43.
TOTAL -- 1,782 families or households helped (about 3,500 individuals); $161,651.
FROM JAN. 1 through Nov. 23, Peninsula Daily News' Peninsula Home Fund helped 1,782 families and households -- about 3,500 individuals -- in Jefferson and Clallam counties, spending $161,651 of the $198,015.03 collected in 2008.
Because of the bad economy and heavy demands this year -- rental assistance; help with energy bills; fuel assistance for work and medical needs; dental care and prescription drug assistance -- the fund is expected to spend the entire $198,015 before Dec. 31.
With every dollar donated, 100 percent going directly to assist those in need -- there are no deductions of any kind for costs -- the Peninsula Home Fund's emphasis is on making sure no one falls through the cracks during the most demanding time of the year -- winter.
The Peninsula Home Fund is disbursed by case managers at OlyCAP -- nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula -- which screens the applicants and administers the fund for the PDN.
They focus on a "hand up, not a handout."
Every instance of assistance is designed to help get an individual or family back on the path to self-sufficiency.
OlyCAP case managers work with individuals or families to develop life-changing plans to become financially stable.
The goal -- avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
More demand this year
Said Tim Hockett, executive director of OlyCAP:
"While we have all been hurt by the downturn in the economy, people at the bottom of the economic scale are suffering most.
"Clearly there has been no time in the last 20 years when the Peninsula Home Fund was more needed.
"OlyCAP has seen an increase in new clients and also many people returning for any help they can get.
"It's sad to see folks working hard but unable to make ends meet.
"Health care costs are not the only culprit.
"Fuel costs are still weighing heavily on low-income families.
"Despite the federal stimulus package, and many other governmental interventions, there is a considerable unmet need among our neighbors for just the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and access to medical attention.
"One interesting phenomenon this year has been the grass-roots efforts to make living more simple and less expensive here on the Peninsula.
"Community gardens are multiplying, providing food for individual families as well as food banks and programs like senior nutrition.
"Ride-sharing and our transit system are becoming much more popular.
"Neighbors helping neighbors is coming back into fashion."
And, on top of all this, "the Peninsula Home Fund is one of the best investments in strengthening the community."
How it's been spent
A brief summary of 2009 Peninsula Home Fund assistance through Nov. 23 (by families or households served, and the dollar amount):
• Rental assistance -- 315; $51,243.
• Energy assistance -- 286; $38,155.
• Medical and dental care -- 165; $11,689.
• Public transportation SEmD172; $7,566.
• Prescriptions/lab expense assistance -- 139; $7,133.
• Car repair expense -- 36; $6,766.
• Emergency assistance -- 75; $6,011.
• Utility assistance (water, garbage, sewer) -- 36; $4,740.
• Household furnishings and supplies -- 67; $4,456.
• Vehicle fuel expense, medical -- 100; $3,987.
• Clothing, adult -- 49; $2,931.
• Vehicle fuel expense, employment -- 71; $2,492.
• Groceries -- 34; $2,410.
• Personal care/hygiene expense -- 73; $2,193.
• Laundry -- 51; $2,042.
• Clothing, child -- 38; $2,292.
• Emergency housing and temporary shelter -- 13; $1,398.
• Crisis intervention -- 4; $852.
• Child care -- 15; $809.
• Auto insurance -- 5; $561.
• Testing, certification -- 10; $360.
• Uniforms/special clothing -- 4; $311.
• Tools/Equipment -- 3; $264.
• Mortgage assistance -- 1; $200.
• Relocation assistance -- 4; $175.
• Telephone assistance -- 3; $156.
• Camping equipment SEmD3; $125.
• School fees -- 3; $123.
• School books/supplies -- 3; $95.
• Licenses/fees -- 2; $73.
• Job search assistance -- 2; $43.
TOTAL -- 1,782 families or households helped (about 3,500 individuals); $161,651.
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Using the money donated in 2008, more than 1,780 families and households -- about 3,500 individuals -- received $161,651 in help so far this year from the Peninsula Daily News' Peninsula Home Fund.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, the Peninsula Home Fund -- a safety net for residents in Jefferson and Clallam counties when there is nowhere else to turn -- is seeking contributions for its annual holiday season fundraising campaign.
Beginning this Sunday, Peninsula Daily News will publish stories every Wednesday and Sunday during the campaign listing contributors and reporting on how the fund works.
No deductions
The Peninsula Home Fund is a unique, nonprofit program:
• No money -- not one penny -- is deducted for administration fees or any other overhead; 100 percent goes to our neighbors in need.
But this is not a welfare program.
Money is used to give families and individuals in Jefferson and Clallam counties "a hand up, not a handout" to get through an emergency situation.
Assistance, which usually averages less than $100, is also limited to one time in a 12-month period.
• All contributions are IRS tax-deductible for the year in which the check is written.
• Your personal information is kept confidential.
The PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
• Every dollar contributed to the Peninsula Home Fund goes to making life better for children, teens, families and the elderly across the North Olympic Peninsula -- from Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim, Joyce and LaPush.
The fund is used for hot meals for Jefferson and Clallam county seniors; warm winter coats for kids; home repairs for a low-income family; needed prescription drugs; dental work; safe, drug-free temporary housing; eyeglasses -- the list goes on and on.
Back to self-sufficiency
All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through a crisis -- and back on the path to self-sufficiency
Money is usually distributed in small amounts, usually not more than $150.
The average amount of help this year was about $85 per family, with no more than one grant from the fund within 12 months.
The fund is managed for the Peninsula Daily News by OlyCAP -- nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs -- the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Home Fund case managers work with each individual or family to develop a plan to become financially stable -- and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
As needed, Peninsula Home Fund contributions are used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
The goal again: "a hand up, not a handout."
Out of money Dec. 31
Now in its 20th year, the fund is supported entirely by Jefferson and Clallam residents.
Individuals, couples, businesses, churches, organizations and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2008 -- $198,015.03.
All of that money is expected to be spent before Dec. 31.
To apply for a Peninsula Home Fund grant, phone OlyCAP at 360-452-4726 (Clallam County) or 360-385-2571 (Jefferson County).
OlyCAP's Port Angeles office is 228 W. First St., Suite J (Armory Square Mall); 360-452-4726.
Its Port Townsend office is at 803 W. Park Ave.; 360-385-2571.
The Forks/West End office is at 91 Maple Ave.; 360-374-6193.
OlyCAP's Web site: www.olycap.org; e-mail: action@olycap.org.
Tim L. Hockett, OlyCAP's executive director, oversees disbursements from the Peninsula Home Fund.
The fund started in 1989 with $2,000 in contributions and has grown every year.
The final total of $198,015.03 for the 2008 campaign (for use in 2009) smashed the old record set in 2007 of $193,312.11.
The 2008 fund drive also set a record for the number of contributions -- 1,209 from individuals, couples, businesses, churches, clubs and school groups, an increase of about 100 from total donations in 2007.
How to donate
From children's pennies to checks for thousands of dollars, the generosity of Peninsula Daily News readers makes a positive difference.
A gift of any size is welcome.
The Peninsula Home Fund has never been a campaign of heavy hitters.
If you can contribute only a few dollars, please don't hesitate because you think it won't make a difference.
Every gift makes a difference, regardless of its size.
To donate, write a check to "Peninsula Home Fund" and attach it to the coupon that accompanies this story.
Mail both items to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles 98362.
Or drop them at the newspaper's offices in Port Townsend, Sequim or Port Angeles (their addresses are on Page A2 of the PDN every day).
You can also contribute online using a credit card -- just click on https://secure.peninsuladailynews.com/homefund/.
Again, all contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible.
You will receive a written thank-you and acknowledgment of your contribution.
If you have any questions about the fund, contact John Brewer, Peninsula Daily News editor and publisher, at 360-417-3500.
Or e-mail john.brewer@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: November 25. 2009 10:00PM
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