Spokane7
49°
August 7, 2010 in City
Holding off homelessness
Stimulus keeps newly poor afloat
Federal stimulus funding not only helped Spokane weather the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, it changed one of the city’s leading social service agencies, which redirected its staff to save jobs and homes.
During the recession that began in 2007, many Spokane residents found themselves seeking financial help for the first time from nonprofit agencies already stretched to the limit providing help to the chronically poor.
In 2009, SNAP, the private, nonprofit social service agency, served nearly 50,000 people, a one-third increase over the previous year. Half of those served were new clients who had never sought assistance before.
At the same time, charities like SNAP saw their donations decline as individual and corporate supporters retrenched.
When a local hospital cut Carrie Emery’s hours working as a health unit coordinator from 34 to 28 a week, the 46-year-old single mom could no longer make ends meet.
When Emery, 46, turned to SNAP for energy assistance last winter, she received even more help than she had hoped for.
“They paid my rent for a couple of months and my Avista and water bill, as well as my car insurance,” Emery said. “It was really a blessing and helped me get on the right track again.”
Since then she has picked up some more hours at work and has paid off many of her debts.
Emery’s family was able to stay in its home because of Community Emergency Services, one of nine SNAP programs that are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Signed into law in February 2009, the $787 billion stimulus package has provided tax cuts, extended unemployment benefits, created and saved jobs, improved infrastructure and provided thousands of Americans with education and health care, according to the White House.
So far, Washington state has received nearly $2.6 billion in stimulus funding, according to the federal Recovery Board, which was established to ensure the money is spent the way it was intended. Idaho has received more than $735 million.
“But for these funds people would be homeless,” said Dan Ruddell, human services manager for the city of Spokane. “The recovery, as weak as it is, would be much weaker.”
Mike and Dawn Payton count themselves among Spokane residents who would have lost their homes if not for stimulus funding.
After Mike, who works in information technology, became unemployed because of a back injury, the family of six started slipping deeper into debt trying to survive on unemployment compensation.
For the first time in their lives, the Paytons asked for and received social services, including rental assistance through the stimulus program Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing, also called Moving Forward.
Under the program, Spokane will receive $1.5 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development funds over three years to keep the newly poor in their homes. So far the program has kept 248 people, referred by SNAP, Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America or the Spokane Low Income Housing Coalition, out of homelessness.
“It meant the difference between us staying in our home or living in a hotel or out in our truck,” said Payton, who added that Moving Forward provided him with the time he needed to recover from surgery before going back to work.
Jennifer Martin, SNAP homeless coordinator, said there are more people eligible for the emergency assistance than there is money to help them. So many, in fact, that her office could have “spent out” the entire three-year homeless prevention program in less than a year.
“In July alone, we spent $72,000, mostly on rental assistance,” Martin said.
She stressed that her clients are newly poor trying to stay in their homes, not the chronically homeless. At least 60 percent of her office’s clients are collecting unemployment compensation. Others have lost their businesses or had their work hours reduced. Martin’s office has had to do triage, selecting recipients who have the best chance to return to economic stability.
Other stimulus funding has provided financial counseling, tax assistance, business development loans and mortgage modification. SNAP continues to provide record numbers of homeowners with foreclosure counseling.
SNAP’s largest program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is for weatherization – more than $5 million through June 2011.
The program made 444 homes more energy efficient in 2009 and will surpass that number in 2010, said SNAP spokesman Ron Hardin, who added that the work is helping keep local contractors in business during the construction downturn.
“It’s been a godsend to us,” said Jim Womble, director of sales at Cascade Windows. “It’s been what’s carrying us through the recession.”
In years past, Womble said, more than 80 percent of the window manufacturer’s business has been in new construction; now it’s about 50 percent replacement.
“I can’t say (stimulus funding) has created jobs, but it kept us from losing jobs,” Womble said.
Dan Jordan, SNAP’s director of community services, said his agency has used stimulus dollars in the best way to benefit the vulnerable in the community.
“The result is a significant safety net that has reduced homelessness, saved many from foreclosure and provided efficient living units that save energy and money,” Jordan said.
Because of the stimulus act, many people have been able to hang on while the economy slowly recovers.
“Sometimes you stimulate hope,” Jordan said.
Rights panel poorly understood 
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 07 at 7:41 a.m.
I know numerous people who were previously “Homeless”, living in shelters or sleeping on the streets, who had over time pulled their act together, gotten low income housing and were starting their lives up in productive, good for our community ways. With the downturn a lot of the part time/pick up work that they had done to support themselves at a subsistence level dried up.. and many were to the point of having Utilities turned off, even with best efforts by Avista to help/forgive some of the costs. The Snap energy assistance program kept multiple people at least still on the bottom rung of the ladder, and did not pitch them back to the street. Money spent in this manner, for support services, temporary shelters and food programs such as ours is over time much more productive than putting folks in jail, or having folks commit a crime so they will go to jail to get through the winter. John @ Shalom Ministries in the Basement of Central Methodist Church.
SugarShane on August 07 at 1:38 p.m.
I hate to admit it, but I will be submitting an app to this place on Monday. My family is broke and has no money and we are going to be evicted unless we can get some help. There are few resources and fewer jobs. Im hoping a college degree will help out one day but have only 2 yrs down and 3 or more to go. I am a nontraditional student and the first in my family to attend college and so far have done well with a 3.6 GPA. We just have to keep struggling along living on food stamps and a few meager hours a week of work. If these people cant help, theres no telling what lies ahead for me and my family and my 2 small children. The worst part is the people that post on here and other places saying that people getting assistance are lazy and looking for a handout. Im sure that people abuse the system, but the system also helps people just barely get by. The only people that hate socialism are people that already have money and are afraid of losing it, its really sad. We can spend billions on killing people in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our oil interests in the guise of spreading democracy and half a trillion on national defense, but dont help out poor people, no way, they are just lazy and dont want to work.
monkeyman on August 07 at 2:04 p.m.
@ Sugar Shane on August 07 at 1:38 p.m.
Sorry to hear about your situation.
“I am a nontraditional student and the first in my family to attend college and so far have done well with a 3.6 GPA.”
Seems like you are a late college bloomer…I hope you are in a good program / subject area with good future prospect. (e.g. not something like music or english literature… : )
Scoutster on August 07 at 2:12 p.m.
One of the chief (though now largely forgotten) reasons for the many New Deal programs was the fear of having so many unemployed with nothing to do and all out of hope. The establishment gets nervous about such things, and they create programs to pacify the masses (bread and circuses, CCC, AFDC, etc.).
I fear that the welfare state has taken the passion and anger out of millions of people. Yes, it is good there is a safety net. But, really, we should be marching in the streets!
Nomore on August 07 at 3:20 p.m.
@Sugar Shane
Sounds like a tough spot to be in. But please feel free to refer back to your previous posts about how GREAT the dems are and how people are never in this position when Dems are in control.
You voted and now you reap those bennies.
Best advice, when sitting in that glass house best not toss the stones.
Hope the children get what they need and deserve and that your family stays strong. Stay strong for them and you will survive just fine and most likely become a better person from learning a lesson of values, haves and have nots and most importantly wants.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 07 at 3:26 p.m.
Sugar Shane… it was brave to tell your story here… You are doing great… and My prayer/meditation is that your moving forward continues…… Not sure where you live….but if it is close to downtown, or that is accessible by bus or walking… during the “School Months” we do an open meal breakfast for all people…. and we do Dinner on Monday Nights…. there are meals elsewhere in town that cater to women and children as well….. We have several “new friends” coming to Shalom…. third and howard across from McDonalds .. the entrance is in back across the alley from crosswalk… I Am at Holden Village cooking for the next six weeks as a volunteer….. so the “full program” at Shalom/Central Methodist is not running … but limited meal schedules are going along fairly well….. It is a nice community of all people/other and you and yours are more than certainly welcome….. John Olsen (Shalom is also on Facebook.)
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 07 at 3:28 p.m.
Oh… a little “tip” … if you do or are able to accomplish an On Line application for the Phone appointment…it works better/easier……:)) J I’ve helped a few folks that dine with me do that on my computer at Shalom…..
mosieD on August 07 at 3:42 p.m.
I recently called SNAP for the first time ever and was told they are out of money to help my husband and me.This article seems not true about the help available right now.
Where is all the help for us now??
August 07-10
Diana on August 07 at 3:59 p.m.
Nomore, spoken with all the compassion of a true Republican.
Bagger, please. The economy crashed during the Bush administration and that’s a fact. I’m still waiting for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to trickle down.
SugarShane on August 07 at 4:47 p.m.
Thanks ChefGus, I appreciate the offer and admire the work you do for the community. I am hoping to get a Masters in Psychology and want to work counseling children and troubled teens. I also agree with Diana, I seem to remember doing just fine before 2 illegal unfunded wars when gas was 2 dollars a gallon. I didnt really want to turn this into a discussion about politics but I seem to remember also that Republicans were against the stimulus plan. From Wiki “No Republicans in the House and only three Republican Senators voted for the bill”. So yes I do think Dems are doing what they can for the people while Repubs are in it for corporate interests and the ultra wealthy. So in that regard you are correct, I voted and only because of democrats are there any “bennies” for me to reap.
Nomore on August 07 at 5:07 p.m.
Diana,
Take your treehuggin (keester) and run sweety. I had compasion in my comment. Just made reference to his previous posts of being allmighty and bashing everyone on their voter status. I have been very keen about staying clear of that until it become painfully obvious that everyone wants to bash a party. His luck is simply his misfortune.. not Luck.. Luck is when buying a $2 item and getting a $500,000 item by mistake. His issues are self propelled as are anyone elses.
What you do when you find yourself in that position is what defines a person.
I was compasionate and wished well for his family and himself. just had to point out the obvious thats all.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 07 at 5:10 p.m.
Sorry…. but the “Bennies”…… ie Food, Shelter, and Safety are the top three things on Maselowe’s (sp) Hierarchy of Needs… the top listed Necessities…. in all cultures around the world….. if in place then there is a base from which one can then start to rebuild a life or maintain a life…and without food in your tummy your brain does not function…that Morning Meal of about 1200 good strong calories helps a couple of hundred folks make it through their day,,, and keeps a finger in the Dike… helping the community down town be more safe and sane…..
Those basic necessities are available even in most Prison Camps I’m familiar with and Prisons as well…. As Christian People ( I am not a Bible Thumper…. baptised at age40, with my dear daughter we are as well are led by the example of Christ the Man….. a role model of perfect action…. the Muslim and Jewish people called to be at the side, and walk in the shoes of the less fortunate….
Giving Alms is one of the five Pillars of Islam….. if everyone gave willingly their “Tithe” of time and talent…. the world would be less afraid and more safe for us all…. After those three basics are obtained the rest is ALL gravy that should cover everyone’s potatoes… J :)) Good luck with your program…. and join us as a volunteer, or a community member…. jcielsbleu@gmail.com
Diana on August 07 at 7:08 p.m.
Nomore: way to hijack a thread, turning someone’s misfortune into blaming them for how they voted.
Whatever, cupcake. B-b-b-b-but, Obama!