Ina & Murray Pitt Fund Report

Ina & Murray Pitt IMPACT REPORT 2020

WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET, WE MAKE A LIFE

BY WHAT WE

give.

--WINSTON CHURCHILL

This past year has been unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted how we serve the community but also how we work. As the needs of those we serve have increased, and with new individuals and families coming through our now virtual doors, we have had to adapt quickly. Working from home, our social workers found new and creative ways to make sure the needs of our clients were being met. This included meeting with clients over the phone, through Zoom, or even on their porches to help them cope with this especially challenging time. We also delivered toiletries and household items to those in need and had a drive-thru backpack pick-up to make sure kids were ready for the school year from home.

Although how we work has changed, we are still serving as the safety-net of the community, thanks to the generosity of the Ina and Murray Pitt Fund.

For many of our clients, COVID-19 impacted their employment, health and financial stability. We helped individuals who were laid off or furloughed from their jobs as well as those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who were exposed to the virus. As these households struggled financially, we received an increase in requests for assistance, most notably in the areas of shelter and utilities. While there have been moratoriums and holds on evictions and utility shutoffs, the amount owed on these bills continue to add up and do not disappear once the moratorium is over. Families will still face incredibly high balances with limited ability to pay them down without financial assistance leading to a long-term crisis.

Family Support Services (FSS) offers individualized case management to help individuals and families maximize their resources to meet their basic needs and gain self-sufficiency.

Our FSS team has grown in the past year and currently consists of five full-time social workers, two part-time social workers, two social work supervisors and a director. Our clients collaborate with their social worker to develop a personal plan of action.

FSS professionals help identify, connect and facilitate access to community resources. 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. Social workers also provide a significant amount of supportive counseling and crisis intervention to address emotional and mental health needs.

JFS is so appreciative of the Pitt Family for providing this fund that can be used to address needs for which there are no other resources, especially this year. The stress and anxiety that clients experience when unable to provide for their basic needs often impairs their ability to function through their crisis.

Thanks to you, JFS can act as the safety net and support our clients with dignity and respect.

YOUR IMPACT

Walter

had been homeless for many years when he

contacted JFS for help. His social worker connected him to resources for emergency shelter, food, clothing and health insurance. Now that he had insurance, he was able to see a doctor for the first time in years, and was diagnosed with cancer. JFS continued to support Walter by connecting him with nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers so he could receive a higher level of care once his cancer was in remission.

His social worker also helped him apply for Social Security Disability Income and secure stable housing. As he is still on a very fixed income, JFS continues to help with food vouchers, bus tickets and clothing, as well as ongoing support in helping Walter achieve his goals and reach self-sufficiency.

Ruby is a single mother and survivor of domestic violence.

While she was pregnant, JFS provided baby items and resources for her and her child. As she was unemployed, JFS helped Ruby apply for government benefits, including food and healthcare and connected her with JVS for job assistance. She is now working part-time and attending school. JFS helped Ruby find affordable housing and helped pay for moving costs, furniture and car repairs to ensure that Ruby has transportation to get to work and school. JFS provides monthly food vouchers to assist Ruby and her child with their food needs. Thanks to her social worker, Ruby gets closer every day of meeting her goal of an independent and safe future for herself and her child.

Cassie had not been able to work due to her mental health and the side effects she experienced from her medications.

She also had alot of emotional and financial stressors. Her JFS social worker assisted her with accessing mental health treatment as well as connecting her with a pro-bono attorney who helped her apply for social security benefits. She was also able to have her student loan payments deferred. Now that Cassie has a stable income, and her mental health and financial circumstances have drastically improved, she is able to volunteer and work part-time. Cassie wrote her social worker a letter thanking her for “saving her life” and for helping her have a life that is “good and abundant.”

Louisa was referred to JFS by HAVEN, a domestic violence shelter in Oakland County, when she was in the process of getting a divorce and fleeing from an abusive relationship with her two children. She had no income, her home was in foreclosure and her utilities had been shut off. Her JFS social worker assisted her with accessing benefits, housing resources, emergency food vouchers and a pro-bono attorney, in addition to referring her to JVS for financial counseling. Louisa was successful in finalizing her divorce, obtaining employment and securing her own apartment. She has since been discharged from JFS as she has successfully met all her goals.

YOUR IMPACT

BY THE NUMBERS

JANUARY 1, 2020 - DECEMBER 31, 2020 NUMBER SERVED

• 480 Distinct People received services from FSS

LENGTH OF SERVICE

• 58% (278/480) in program for 2 or more years • 17% (81/480) in program between 1 and 2 years • 12% (60/480) in program between 6 months and 1 year • 13% (61/480) in program for 6 months or less

DEMOGRAPHICS

• 67% (323/480) are Jewish • 348 are Female • 132 are Male

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED: Distinct Count of People: 303

AREAS OF SUPPORT RESOURCES PROVIDED

COUNT # OF OF PEOPLE ASSISTED SERVICES

FUNDS SPENT

132 266

1,145 2,510

$48,387.92 $260,075.00

Shelter

73

111

$100,542.38

Utilities

43

66

$39,898.81

Other need to support families

59

88

$18,418.20

2

3

($777.81)

Transportation Food

Client contributions

TOTAL AMOUNT

$466,544.50

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: • 65% of clients discharged from service were identified as having achieved or partially achieved their goals.

• 67% of clients are currently active and are achieving or continuing with improvements toward their goals.

• 82% of clients reported they have been given resources and information to improve their life situation.

• 86% of clients reported they would refer others needing help to JFS.