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 PARTICIPANT'S AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS APPROXIMATELY $13,104 PER YEAR. PEOPLE NEEDING HELP ARE INTERVIEWED BY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS TO ASSESS THEIR WHOLE SITUATION, INCLUDING FINANCIAL NEEDS, FOOD INSECURITY, MEDICAL INSURANCE, ACCESS TO BENEFITS, CHILDREN'S NEEDS, ETC. IN FY 2023 OUR RESOURCE NAVIGATORS AND VOLUNTEERS CONDUCTED FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILIES NEEDING FINANCIAL HELP AND 3,368 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED REPRESENTING 7,581 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 2,431 CHILDREN. 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 HOTEL 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 2023, EFAA PROVIDED $3,157,510 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY HOTEL SHELTER, MINOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS, EYEGLASSES, ETC, THROUGH OUR BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, OUR FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED 1,535,346 POUNDS OF FOOD VALUED AT $2,947,864. ALSO, DURING THE HOLIDAYS, EFAA DISTRIBUTED TOYS VALUED AT $35,000 TO OUR PARTICIPANTS.

EFAA'S STRATEGIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF KEY ISSUES FACING LOWER-INCOME RESIDENTS, INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICIES, INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATION, AND GIVE VOICE TO PARTICIPANTS ON THE ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR LIVES. COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, AND ACCESS TO, EFAA SERVICES TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS EFAA'S PARTICIPANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC), WHICH IS A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IS MADE UP OF PARTICIPANTS THAT UTILIZE EFAA'S PROGRAMS. THE PAC ADVISES STAFF AND THE BOARD ON RECOMMENDATIONS OR ISSUES WITH EFAA'S PROGRAMS FROM A PARTICIPANT PERSPECTIVE.

EFAA'S SHORT-TERM AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS PROVIDE HOMELESS FAMILIES IN BOULDER COUNTY WITH A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND RESOURCE NAVIGATION SUPPORT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ATTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE FAMILIES IN OUR SHORT-TERM HOUSING PROGRAM ARE HOUSED IN EFAA APARTMENTS RENT FREE FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS. DURING THEIR STAY, EFAA PROVIDES INTENSIVE RESOURCE NAVIGATION, GOAL SETTING, SAVINGS PLANS AND 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 RESOURCE NAVIGATOR TO ACHIEVE SELF-IDENTIFIED GOALS (INCREASED INCOME, EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, ETC.). MOST OF THE FAMILIES IN OUR TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM STARTED IN OUR SHORT-TERM PROGRAM. 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 64 UNITS FOR THESE PROGRAMS IN BOULDER, LAFAYETTE, LONGMONT, LOUISVILLE, AND NEDERLAND. IN FY 2023, WE PROVIDED HOUSING TO 107 UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS REPRESENTING 390 INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING 219 CHILDREN) AND 81% OF FAMILIES WHO EXITED EFAA'S HOUSING PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING INTO AFFORDABLE, LONG-TERM HOUSING. IN FY 2023, EFAA PROVIDED $64,108 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 AND HOMEWORK HELP. 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, 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 PRESENTATIONS ARE BROUGHT TO OUR HOUSING SITES FROM MUSEUMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATONS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED FREE TICKETS TO MUSEUMS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, SPORTING EVENTS AND LOCAL EVENTS, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT NOT GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES. IN FY 2023, SPECIALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO 219 CHILDREN RESIDING IN EFAA HOUSING. IN FY 2023, EFAA PROVIDED $2,894 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROJECTS AND SNACKS.