Blaine County Charitable Fund Inc

WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING AND/OR WORKING IN BLAINE COUNTY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO AN UNANTICIPATED CRISIS.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION FORMED THREE PATHWAYS TO RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. EMERGENCY RENT ASSISTANCE CAN BE APPLIED FOR UP TO THREE TIMES A YEAR AND AWARDS ARE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S INCOME, AS WELL AS PROGRESSION TOWARDS DECREASING EXPENSES OR INCREASING INCOME. 1ST/LAST/DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY SECURE NEW HOUSING AND THE AWARDED AMOUNT IS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S INCOME AND ABILITY TO PAY RENT IN THE FUTURE. RAPID RELIEF ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED FOR NEEDS OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND CAN INCLUDE EMERGENCY HOTEL STAYS, GAS/GROCERY CARDS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, MEDICAL & DENTAL EXPENSES, AND UTILITIES. 99 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONALLY FUNDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR A TOTAL OF 130,416.

) ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH & OUTREACH: - TWO PART-TIME BILINGUAL STAFF WERE MEMBERS WERE ADDED - THE ORGANIZATION OPENED OFFICES LOCATED AT 101 EMPTY SADDLE TRAIL IN HAILEY. THE OFFICE IS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK SERVING DOZENS OF WALK IN INQUIRIES EACH WEEK, AND TAKING CLIENT APPOINTMENTS IN A PRIVATE OFFICE SETTING. - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT COMMUNITY GATHERING LOCATIONS SUCH AS THE HUNGER COALITION FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS, MEXICAN CONSULATE VISITS, AND HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL EVENTS.

CONTRACTED SERVICES: - THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED WITH IDAHO HOUSING & FINANCE TO ADMINISTER THEIR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION TEMPORARILY INCREASED STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THIS NINE MONTH CONTRACT. THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO HELP SECURE 302,000 IN RENT ASSISTANCE FOR 64 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. - THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED WITH BLAINE COUNTY TO DISTRIBUTE 71,000 IN ARPA FUNDS FOR BLAINE COUNTY RESIDENTS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 27,000 WAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE FORM OF RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO 30 HOUSEHOLDS. 44,000 WAS UTILIZED TO REHABILITATE, MOVE AND STORE 8 MOBILE HOMES THAT WERE DISPLACED DUE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY IN WHICH THEY WERE PLACED.

MISSION BASED SPECIAL PROJECTS: - IN RESPONSE TO THE LIMELIGHT CONDOMINIUM FIRE THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED 26 UNITS AND DISPLACED 28 INDIVIDUALS, THE ORGANIZATION COLLECTED 271,000 IN RESTRICTED DONATIONS TO BENEFIT THE DISPLACED RESIDENTS OF THE FIRE. 181,434 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE FORM OF INCREASED HOUSING COSTS AND UNINSURED LOSS OF PROPERTY. - DUE TO A LACK OF ADEQUATE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND POPULATION SURGES DURING 2022, THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED THEIR EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM FROM SHORT TERM STAYS TO WINTER LONG STAYS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON KEEPING ELDERLY AND CHILDREN SAFE DURING THE COLDEST WINTER MONTHS. THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2022 AND ENDED IN MARCH 2023. 158 INDIVIDUALS (59 OF THOSE CHILDREN) FOR A TOTAL OF 55 HOUSEHOLDS WERE HOUSED IN HOTEL ROOMS AND COMMUNITY SHELTERS. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 71 NIGHTS.