Emergency Family Assistance Association Inc

EFAA HELPS THOSE IN BOULDER COUNTY WHOSE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR FOOD, SHELTER, AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY MET BY OTHER MEANS, AND SUPPORTS THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

THE BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM PROVIDES VARIOUS TYPES OF ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN BOULDER COUNTY WHO ARE UNABLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. OUR TARGET POPULATIONS ARE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR CLIENT'S AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS APPROXIMATELY $12,667 PER YEAR. PEOPLE NEEDING HELP ARE INTERVIEWED BY CASE MANAGERS TO ASSESS THEIR WHOLE SITUATION, INCLUDING FINANCIAL NEEDS, FOOD INSECURITY, MEDICAL INSURANCE, ACCESS TO BENEFITS, CHILDREN'S NEEDS, ETC. IN FY 2021 OUR CASE MANAGERS AND VOLUNTEERS CONDUCTED FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILIES NEEDING FINANCIAL HELP AND 2,127 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED REPRESENTING 4,967 INDIVIDUALS. FINANCIAL AND BUDGET COUNSELING IS PROVIDED, IN ADDITION TO ASSESSING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF EFAA'S ASSISTANCE. EFAA IS ABLE TO DIRECTLY PROVIDE FOOD THROUGH OUR FOOD BANK AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY RENT, DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, EMERGENCY MOTEL STAYS, MINOR MEDICAL EXPENSES, ETC. EFAA REFERRALS ARE MADE FOR LONGER TERM ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS OR TO OTHER NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, AS APPROPRIATE. IN FY 2021, EFAA PROVIDED $3,649,662 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY MOTEL SHELTER, MINOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS, EYEGLASSES, ETC, THROUGH OUR BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, OUR FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED 933,047 POUNDS OF FOOD VALUED AT $1,623,502 TO OUR CLIENTS.

EFAA'S SHORT-TERM AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS PROVIDE HOMELESS FAMILIES IN BOULDER COUNTY WITH A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ATTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE SHORT-TERM HOUSING PROGRAM FAMILIES ARE HOUSED IN EFAA APARTMENTS RENT FREE FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS. DURING THEIR STAY, EFAA PROVIDES INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, GOAL SETTING, SAVINGS PLANS AND COVERS MOST LIVING EXPENSES, INCLUDING HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION. FAMILIES SAVE THEIR INCOMES SO WHEN THEY LEAVE THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED SAVINGS WHICH THEY USE TO SECURE LONG-TERM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FAMILIES IN OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM ARE HOUSED IN OUR APARTMENTS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, PAY NOMINAL RENT AND ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER TO ACHIEVE SELF-IDENTIFIED GOALS (INCREASED INCOME, EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, ETC.). IDEALLY, WHEN THEY MOVE OUT THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED ADEQUATE SAVINGS TO SECURE LONG-TERM HOUSING, THEIR FAMILIES HAVE STABILIZED, HAVE INCREASED THEIR EARNINGS ABILITY AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCCESS AT BEING GOOD TENANTS. EFAA HAS 56 UNITS FOR THESE PROGRAMS IN BOULDER, LAFAYETTE, LONGMONT, AND LOUISVILLE. IN FY 2021, WE PROVIDED HOUSING TO 125 UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS REPRESENTING 441 INDIVIDUALS AND 96% OF FAMILIES WHO EXITED EFAA'S HOUSING PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING INTO AFFORDABLE, LONG-TERM HOUSING. IN FY 2021, EFAA PROVIDED $30,178 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, MINOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS, EYEGLASSES, ETC, THROUGH OUR SHORT-TERM AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.

FAMILIES, AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, RESIDING IN EFAA'S HOUSING ARE CONTINUALLY ASSESSED FOR UNMET NEEDS DURING THEIR STAY. CHILDREN, IN ADDITION TO THEIR GENERAL FAMILY NEEDS, ARE PROVIDED TARGETED PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, HOMEWORK HELP AND FIELD TRIPS. THE GOAL OF THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY (CYF) PROGRAM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR HOUSING ARE BEING MET DURING THEIR STAY WITH US AND ENSURING THAT THE CHILDREN'S HOME LIFE, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH ARE STABLE AND PROGRESSING. THE CYF PROGRAM SEEKS TO STOP THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY EDUCATING OUR FAMILIES ON HOW TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY AND STABLE LIFESTYLE FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. EFAA WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN ARE ATTENDING SCHOOL, RECEIVING FREE LUNCH AND GETTING PROGRAM FEES WAIVED, FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN, ETC. IN ADDITION, WE WORK WITH PARENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL AND TEACHER, WHICH RESEARCH SHOWS IS CRUCIAL IN IMPROVING CHILDREN'S ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS. ALSO, EDUCATIONAL AND FUN FIELD TRIPS ARE TAKEN TO MUSEUMS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, SPORTING EVENTS AND LOCAL EVENTS (MANY TIMES WITH DONATED TICKETS), IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT NOT GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES. IN FY 2021, SPECIALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO 255 CHILDREN RESIDING IN EFAA HOUSING. IN FY 2020, EFAA PROVIDED $7,970 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE, SUMMER CAMPS AND FIELD TRIPS, AS WELL AS DINNERS AND INCENTIVES FOR FAMILIES ATTENDING FAMILY SUPPORT CLASSES THROUGH OUR CYF PROGRAM.