Midtown Assistance Center Inc

THE MIDTOWN ASSISTANCE CENTER PROVIDES SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE TO LOWER (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) INCOME WORKING RESIDENTS OF MIDTOWN AND DOWNTOWN ATLANTA WHO EXPERIENCE A SHORT-TERM CRISIS OR SIGNIFICANT NEED, IN THE FORMS OF RENT AND UTILITIES PAYMENT, AND SUPPLY OF FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION PASSES.

DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 611 FAMILIES TO PREVENT EVICTION AND SECURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR RENT, THE STRESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING. MAC FOCUSES ON THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE HAD PAST STABILITY AND ONLY HAVE A TEMPORARY FINANCIAL CRISIS. BY HAVING THE RENT PAID, HOMELESSNESS IS AVOIDED, CREDIT IS NOT DAMAGED, THE FAMILY REMAINS SOMEWHAT STABLE AND EVERYONE CAN GO ABOUT LIVING PRODUCTIVE LIVES OF WORK AND SCHOOL WITHOUT THE STRESS OF WONDERING WHEN THEY WILL BE EVICTED. MANY HARD WORKING FAMILIES GET INTO A TEMPORARY BIND DUE TO ILLNESS, TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, JOB LOSS OR LARGE UNEXPECTED BILLS SUCH AS CAR REPAIR AND MEDICAL EXPENSES.

MAC PROVIDED 2,332 FAMILIES WITH REMOTE GROCERY ASSISTANCE AND 141 BAGS OF GROCERIES TO 47 FAMILIES. FOR MANY FAMILIES, STRUGGLING TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE IS A CHALLENGE. THE INCREASING COST OF FOOD AND THE LACK OF GROCERY STORES IN THE AREAS WHERE OUR CLIENTS LIVE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. SINCE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE DO NOT HAVE CARS, IT IS COSTLY TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THE STORE. A ROUND TRIP MARTA PASS COSTS FIVE DOLLARS AND THE TRIP OFTEN TAKES MORE THAN ONE HOUR. FOR WORKING PEOPLE, THIS IS DIFFICULT AND THE MAC FOOD PANTRY IS THE CLOSEST OPTION FOR FOOD.

UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE TO 654 FAMILIES.WITH RISING UTILITY COSTS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. LACK OF UTILITY SERVICE CAN CAUSE A FAMILY TO BE EVICTED FROM ITS HOME, LEAD TO FIRES IN THE HOME, AND CAUSE EXTREME DISCOMFORT AND HEALTH HAZARDS AND THEREBY ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE FAMILY TO INCUR HIGHER DEPOSITS FOR FUTURE SERVICE. WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, SOME FAMILIES ARE NEVER ABLE TO BECOME CURRENT ON THEIR SERVICE AND CANNOT QUALIFY FOR LOWER RATES OR BUDGET BILLING. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR A WORKING PERSON TO BE PREPARED FOR WORK IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SHOWER AND DRESS IN A HOME WITH ADEQUATE LIGHTING, COOLING OR HEATING.

MAC PROVIDED MARTA TRANSPORTATION PASSES TO 876 PEOPLE.