Family Support Program Update

The Family Support Program has been busy this summer:

• The Manufactured Home Improvement And Repair Program (MHIR) stopped taking applications as of 6/30/24 for anything besides emergency circumstances. The program has helped a total of 32 households in completing applications up to the above deadline since the program began. The total amount of approved grants so far from these household is $263,400.99.
• Working with a few families at Vergennes Community Apartments to have access to meal kits from the Summer Meals for Kids & Teens program. Each meal kit contains food for breakfast and lunch for 7 days for one child.
• Worked with a North Pleasant Street resident to apply for funding through HOPE for three sound machines. The sound machines will assist this resident with sensory and PTSD struggles from the sound of traffic from the main road. The resident noted that the sound machines make a positive difference in their life.
• Have planned for the fall a gathering at Firehouse Apartments with residents and Evernorth.
  

Overall, the program made 155 contacts to 75 households including 42 children in the first six months of 2024. Participants reached 34 positive milestones (like becoming current on rent or curing an eviction) while two had negative outcomes. The program made 77 referrals to other community partners and programs. Community partners helped participants access over $16,000 in back rent relief. Assistance with benefits paperwork was the most common intervention, followed by emotional support, squalor intervention, food shelf, and reasonable accommodation support.

These numbers were updated 7/31/24 based on additional data entry done in July.

Norma and Michael Freegard (pictured above with Family Support Coordinator Precious Chamberlin, right, and Property Manager Chris Ouellette, left) participated in the program for help repairing their mobile home. Norma and Michael are from Bristol; Michael is semi-retired and Norma is disabled. Because of the grant they were able to get with help from AHW, Norma says "It's going to be warmer this winter and our fuel bill will go down." Michael says, "Everyone [at AHW] is doing a good job helping people." Both agree that the best thing about living at KTP is the neighbors--it is quiet and peaceful.