Four weeks of hard work and each time, the young woman’s paycheck from the manufacturing company looked the same -- zero. “I do work – and I mean work,” she told the staff member at Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) as she handed over a paycheck that listed only zeroes instead of numbers. “I thought for sure this week I would have something to pay bills and buy food.”

Due to cutbacks in her working hours, as well as deductions for health insurance and her uniform, the woman had nothing left to put food on the table for her children and pay the next month’s rent.

At Hope House in Blount County, an elderly widow came in for help with paying the sliding scale rate for her government-subsidized housing. For that month, even $19 was more than she could manage, and she faced eviction.

“In these hard times, we are seeing so many people who have never had to ask for help before,” said Bud Jones of Hope House.

Staff at GBM and Shelby Emergency Assistance agree. As they serve individuals and families across the five counties of metro Birmingham, the economy is bringing new people every day and expanding the need for assistance.

The Housing Stability Fund of the Community Foundation was established in early 2009 to meet those needs, with at $200,000 grant to GBM, Hope House and Shelby Emergency Assistance that helped to keep 220 families and 300 children avoid homelessness. Agency staff reported that 97 percent of recipients receiving assistance through grants from the Housing Stability Fund were new to the system, showing the effect of the economy on people who themselves might have been givers rather than recipients.

The Community Foundation also supported United Way's Community Crisis Fund with a grant of $50,000, and helped to promote filings for Earned Income Tax Credits, all as part of a multi-faceted approach to needs related to the current economic situation. That effort continues, as the Community Foundation works to combine its efforts in an effective partnership with government stimulus dollars now available in certain counties.

“We continue to work with our nonprofit partners and stay in touch with changes in government policies, so that we can be most effective in responding to the economic crisis.” said Karen Rolen, Vice President Community Investment for the Community Foundation. “Particularly in this season of the year, we are so aware of how important it is for a family to have a safe, secure place to stay.

"We believe an investment in housing is one of the smartest, most strategic, most compassionate and most cost-effective investments we can make, not only because the situation is often so dire, but because housing stability has a tremendous impact on a family.”

Staff members at each agency are able to stretch grant dollars by negotiating with landlords, helping applicants come up with realistic budgets and, as in the case of the zero paycheck, connecting the woman with insurance for her children through the All Kids program.

Individuals in need of assistance may contact Shelby Emergency Assistance (665-1942), Hope House (625-HOPE) or Greater Birmingham Ministries, depending on where they live. All three agencies welcome contributions of all sizes.

Looking to 2010
The Community Foundation now is looking to 2010 and an expected influx of government stimulus dollars.

“Residents of the Birmingham region should receive significant resources to prevent homelessness as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or the stimulus package,” Rolen said.  “As community partners come together to develop a system to effectively administer these federal dollars, we hope to use our Housing Stability Fund to bolster and support that system, all with the goal of keeping families housed.”

Community Investment Manager Webb Lyons (327-3817) is working with these partners and has information about how agencies may be eligible to receive funding from a variety of sources.