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In This Month's Issue
Past Issues
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From the Executive Director
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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of teaming up with Robin Bohanan, the Director of the Boulder County Community Services Department, to meet with and speak to the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. As people who have been involved in local human services for many years, they wanted Robyn and me to share our perspective on how the “working poor” have been faring in our community. My portion of the presentation, framed through EFAA’s perspective as an agency of “last resort,” focused on the increasingly difficult struggle low income working people have had in the last two decades. During this time the cost of basic necessities (food, rent, medical care, transportation) have substantially outpaced increases in wages. I was able to put a human face on this issue that same day when after our talk I was approached by a professionally dressed woman in the audience who said, “I am so glad to hear you say what you did because you were talking about my situation and it’s good to know that the fact that I am struggling is not necessarily my fault.” She impressed me as someone who had worked hard all her life and made “responsible” decisions along the way. Although her struggle might not get any easier, I think she was relieved to know that forces beyond her control might have something to do with her present situation. Literally thousands of others in our community are doing their best but are falling further behind as costs continue to increase faster than wages for the working poor. This is not necessarily new “news.” Rather it is something that has been going on for years. This woman’s response simply touched me and I wanted to share it with you. The support you and others in our community provide to EFAA allows us to continually be there for the increasing number of working poor that come to us for help. As we look to the future, we will do our best to assist these families and we will also be exploring additional strategies to engage our community in meeting this growing need.
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The coldest winter in over 20 years has greeted us at the outset of 2007
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U nfortunately families that struggle to keep their heat on have been greeted with the news that utility payment assistance through governmental programs has been deeply cut according to an article published in the Rocky Mountain News on January 13, 2007. The article stated that: • The Federal LEAP (Low-income Energy Assistance Program) funds were cut by 28% this year; • Colorado’s energy assistance fund is down by 40% this year; • State help has fallen 26% from last year; • And • Xcel energy is RAISING their rates this month by 10% The recent sub-zero weather coupled with the recently announced energy assistance cut backs create perilous circumstances for lower income families – most of whom are working. EFAA is already seeing the impact. Last week a two parent family with three children moved into EFAA’s Boulder family shelter. The father works in construction and with the two big snow storms and the ongoing weekly snow fall, his hours were cut back suddenly. They ended up falling behind on their rent and were evicted. EFAA was there for them. What are the impacts created by these cut backs and storms? At EFAA, it means that the need for assistance with basic needs, such as utility assistance and emergency shelter will continue to increase and we need your help. Last winter EFAA helped over 700 families with utility bills and we expect the need to rise this year. When we help a family we provide an average of $323 in assistance and work with Xcel or the utility provider to make sure the service stays on. Last year, we provided emergency shelter for 92 unique households, which we expect to exceed 100 this year. When in shelter, EFAA provides the family with everything they need – think about what you use daily in your life. The average cost per 8 week stay is $4,785 per family. As you know, EFAA helps those in our community whose immediate needs for food, shelter and other basic necessities cannot adequately be met by other means, and supports their efforts toward financial stability or self-sufficiency. For over 80 years, EFAA has been our community’s safety net for low income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Please join us in our efforts to keep families warm and in their homes this winter. You can make a gift today at www.efaa.org. Thank you for your support.
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