Agencies seeing rise of residents in need

By Nanette Craig
Item Correspondent

June 11, 2008 11:50 pm

— Social service agencies are seeing more of Huntsville’s residents in need of financial help as the cost of living continues to rise.
In May 2008, food stamp payments to Walker County residents rose $23,677 to $417,055 from the same period in 2007, according to figures released by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Service organizations such as food banks and bill assistance programs are being stretched because the need for help is becoming so great. These organizations depend on donations to provide their services.
“We serve 1 out of 5 people in Walker County. The numbers will go up as the economy worsens,” said Good Shepherd Mission food bank manager Cassandra Curtis.
Monthly, the mission provides an average of 1,400 hot meals, operates a food bank serving around 120 households a week, and provides lodging. The mission also gives away clothes, furniture and has various other services.
Good Shepherd Mission volunteer Bill Elmer said when the mission mails out an appeal letter to their donor base, usually there are 30 or 40 donors who respond.
“This time we only got 10. That is alarming,” said Elmer.
The mission is supported throughout the year by numerous food drives from area churches, schools and Sam Houston State University sororities and fraternities and other organizations.
“We’re in a dry bones period of time right now,” said Curtis.
She said summer is always a time when the mission supplies start dwindling. Many SHSU organizations that help with food drives are gone for the summer and the mission depends on the community to help.
“The impact has been in donations, not the services we provide,” said Elmer. He said he has noticed his church is even experiencing a dip in donations from members and speculates it’s because of economic concerns.
People able to donate are continuing to do so, but other residents might be choosing between putting gas in their vehicles or donating.
The price of gas in Texas has now reached an average price of $3.91 for regular unleaded, a report released on Monday from the Energy Information Administration.
With gas prices rising, local residents are finding they need help with not only food but with other living expenses.
“They’ve been calling for help with rent, mortgage payments, utilities,” said Community Outreach Mission Endeavor (COME) Center staffer Rosilee Garcia.
The center has used clothing for sale and some is given away for free. The center also helps with residents’ utility bills through Project CARE and sponsors school supply drives for local children.
“It’s bad out there. We’ve been seeing more people lately,” said Garcia.
She said she saw a news segment where more people are shopping at resale shops because they have to choose between gas, food or clothes.
Garcia said the COME Center usually gives away 6,000 pieces of clothing a month.
Garcia said many residents are signing up for Project CARE, a bill assistance program sponsored by Entergy that helps low-income, elderly or disabled customers pay their energy bills in times of financial distress.
“I don’t know what people are going to do when August gets here,” said Garcia.
The Walker County United Way is another organization seeing the effects of the economy on local residents.
“I have seen an increase in people needing assistance,” said executive director of Walker County United Way Julie Schneider.
She said people have been in her office crying because they have a bill due and no way to pay it.
She said it’s not because people don’t want to pay, it’s because they can’t.
“People have a lot of pride and they are not used to being late and are not used to asking for help,” said Schnieder.
She said there is a misconception about all the people they help being poor.
“We’ve had people calling who are about to lose their homes, and I am quick to tell people that call me on the phone there is no reason to be ashamed because everyone is in this boat,” she said.
Schnieder said if the Walker County United Way can’t help them, there is a network of agencies in the community here to assist and to put stressed residents in touch with organizations that can help.
“We’re trying to put new plans in action to try to meet the need as I am sure all the agencies in Huntsville are,” she said.
Schnieder said even charitable organizations are scrambling these days to continue to provide their services because the need for assistance is so great.
“People can’t afford gas and gas is affecting everything,” said Schnieder.