By Geoff Crump
WE ARE SO thankful and blown away each year by the generosity across our community.
The Peninsula Home Fund for so many children, families and seniors is that one piece of support they need to make that turn into a better life.
Being able to pinpoint a barrier, remove that barrier and see the family succeed is what makes donating to the Home Fund so powerful and meaningful.
Donating to the Home Fund is contributing to our own community so that we can see those in need through a crisis, help them stabilize, and watch them move on to thrive.
The Home Fund is serving thousands of our neighbors each year — and without the kind and generous Home Fund donors across the Peninsula, this would not be possible.
How are things across the North Olympic Peninsula?
Good news
We have seen some positive movement across Clallam and Jefferson counties over the last year.
From September 2013 to September 2014, unemployment in Clallam is down in different job categories from 1.1 percent to 7 percent, and in Jefferson County, unemployment is down 1.4 percent to 6.6 percent.
This is the right direction, but with housing and utility costs remaining high, and many jobs not providing a living wage or seasonal, we have not seen the need for accessing Home Fund decrease at all.
While the Home Fund provides assistance in 40-plus different areas the most needs continues to come in the way of housing, utilities and transportation.
In most cases, housing, utilities and transportation costs are things in a household budget that cannot change and must be paid.
This leaves most of the households we serve very vulnerable to one unexpected cost or emergency pushing them over the edge into complete crisis.
A great example is someone needing eyeglasses.
Does this household pay rent — or get glasses to allow them to continue working?
The Home Fund can help get the eyeglasses, allowing the family to remain stable and out of crisis.
The need for the Home Fund to help these folks through these times remains high across the Peninsula.
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Geoff Crump is executive director of OlyCAP — Olympic Community Action Programs — the PDN’s partner in the Peninsula Home Fund.
He can be reached at 360-385-2571 or by emailing gcrump@olycap.org.
