Our clients are residents of the Chicagoland area who are facing a short-term crisis or are in the midst of a life transition. They come from diverse backgrounds, familial structures, situations and needs.

Following are just a few stories that demonstrate our success:

Salena
Salena was a 34 year-old victim of domestic violence who lost her job after fleeing her abuser in Rhode Island. With a Masters degree and a strong background in social services, Salena was an earnest participant in our partner agency's employment program, but shelter life had caused her hair to become horribly matted. Salena also needed clothing and transportation in order to get to interviews and make a great first impression. Through our program, Salena's caseworker used just $100 in Emergency Funds to make a hair appointment for Salena and bought her a suit and enough train fare to make it to her interviews and back.

Paula
Paula was on the verge of losing her subsidized housing when she called the Emergency Fund for assistance. She worked full-time in a minimum wage job earning $5.50 per hour. Paula secured her job through her participation in a program at Catholic Charities. Her social worker helped her with job placement, but Paula had nowhere to turn when the final notices for gas and electricity came in the mail. Disconnected utilities can jeopardize Section 8 vouchers, so Paula was forced to use her rent money to set up payment plans with the utility companies. Financial assistance from the Emergency Fund covered two months of Paula's back rent so she would not lose her subsidized housing. This allowed her to use her income to meet the payment requirements for her utility bills. Keeping Paula in her home instead of on the street was an Emergency Fund priority.

Roxanne
Roxanne came to our partner agency for help after her husband died from a liver disease. After making arrangements for her husband, Roxanne discovered that her seven month-old son had contracted a severe bronchial infection that required three expensive medications to treat. Roxanne, like so many mothers without health insurance today, was required to pay for all medical expenses out-of-pocket. Our Fund Manager serving the West town community at the partner agency responded immediately with $125 through the Emergency Fund to pay for the medications. She also filled out an application for health insurance appropriate for middle-income families who cannot afford regular coverage and do not meet the eligibility criteria for services available to very low-income families.

Jim
Jim was a senior living on a fixed income who found himself short on the rent after paying for his late wife's burial expenses. His landlord was understanding, but encouraged him to seek outside help in order to avoid eviction. That's when a neighbor called the Emergency Fund. Through the efforts of our staff and Fund Manager, Wanda Morris, Jim received a small grant from Catholic Charities, but it still wasn't enough to make ends meet. Wanda used Emergency Funds to clear up Jim's rental debt, allowing Jim to stay in his home and start over again.

If you live in Chicago, dial 3-1-1 and ask for "Short-Term Help" to be screened for the Emergency Fund's financial assistance.