CES Accomplishments
During 2005, there were many natural disasters that caused crisis needs all over the world. Because of these legitimate needs, CES donor dollars were down. As CES recovered from these events throughout 2006 and even into early 2007, it became evident that during the first half of 2007, the need for assistance was growing as more and more people became the working poor (now over 30% of our “customers”). Although some have work, they receive low wages, making it almost impossible to make ends meet. Therefore, with the combination of lower "client" income and more crisis needs, the number of persons requesting help from CES continues to grow.
Over 575,000 pounds of food were distributed, over 430 people were kept from homelessness and countless others were assisted with obtaining driver's licenses or identification cards (job related), getting to work via a bus card or a gas voucher until their first paycheck came, money for co-payments for medications and glasses, utility shut-off intervention and even travel transportation to a funeral of a loved one.
Following are several ways in which the accomplishments of CES can be seen for the past year. You may also want to see an expanded explanation of these CES accomplishments in the 2007 Statistical Summary.
New Programming
Each month there has been an increase in the number of people coming for crisis aid, relating their accounts of very hard times. Yet, CES continues to meet the needs and sees lives changed one by one. Some of these successes have come through two new programs: Work With Dignity and Families in Transition and two experimental services: a free legal service through a local law office and Simply Good Eating, a nutrition and hands on cooking class for Somali women.
- Work With Dignity (WWD)
With the help of this program adopted in 2004 at CES, many people in the inner city who have struggled with joblessness, have now found full-time employment at a living wage, benefits included.
Resume writing has continued for many of these people, which, in turn, increased their confidence and their likelihood of being hired as they apply for work.
Online help is given through several job listing services to help those seeking employment as well as referral to area job fairs.
- Families in Transition (FIT)
After a trial period, Families in Transition (FIT) was adopted in 2006 as another way in which CES could be proactive in meeting the ongoing crisis needs of the inner city.
FITs main focus is to teach young and single parents how to move on with their lives in a positive way by offering a class one Saturday each month.
- Legal Services
Once or twice a month on Wednesday afternoons, Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP offer legal services to those not able to afford legal counsel.
- Simply Good Eating
An instructor, through the Universtiy of Minnesota, teaches Somali women about nutrition using a hands on approach to the knowledge of and use of accessible food found locally.
Outcome Measurements from 2006
While not all of CES’ success can be quantified numerically, the statistical criteria by which it measures what has been accomplished are as follows:
- Number of individuals served — 55,639
- Interviews with clients requesting aid — 14,898
- Food requests — 9,766
- Meals shared — 444,882
- Value of meals shared — $1,033,109
- Individuals receiving referrals — 4,052
- Value of referral help — over $2,101,000
- Meals delivered by Meals on Wheels — 55,552
- Volunteers — 1,067
- Families receiving housing assistance — 433
- Individuals/families receiving non-housing
financial aid — 5,900
- Individuals/families receiving miscellaneous
non-financial assistance — 2,263
Recent Accomplishments
CES had the following accomplishments during 2006:
- 14,898 people were interviewed requesting aid
- The value of meals shared in 2006 totaled $1,033,109
- Approximately 430 families received housing assistance at a cost of nearly $122,000
Homelessness was prevented or resolved (for families in South/Southeast Minneapolis with minor children in the home) by referral or by paying for part of a month's rent - up to 50% or $300-500 - whichever was less. In some cases, singles were helped in the same way. - 2,263 people received non-financial assistance including house wares, linens, appliances, furniture, financial counseling, etc.
- In the past six months, 10-12 individuals either made a new or renewed commitment of faith with some of the people returning to CES to tell of answers to their needs.
- A number of individuals were assisted with transportation costs and in some cases food for family wakes after a loved one died.
- As resource dollars permitted, help was given to indigent families/individuals affected by the oppressive, newly required (as a result of recent changes in medical assistance rules) $2-3 co-payments demanded by doctors and pharmacists for doctor visits, prescriptions and medications, especially when lack of the medications may be life threatening.
- There have been 30-35 Somali Benadiri families a week, who have run short of food, assisted with up to a three-day supply per month. Due to special permission granted fro the Emergency Foodshelf Network, these Somali families outside our food shelf will not be denied access.
- Bus cards were provided to cover transportation to work until the first paycheck arrived for those transitioning from unemployment to employment.
Giving Updates
Unprecedented needs in the area of housing have been seen in growing numbers. It is not uncommon to receive over 100 calls a day at the beginning of each month from people about to be evicted. Rents are increasing and resources are falling farther behind relative to the needs of crisis housing aid. Just a few years ago, $8,000 covered the housing crisis requests until about the 25th of the month. In 2006, over $10,000 was spent per month on housing crisis responses with funds often gone by the 5th of the month, sometimes even three days into the month. It is hard on both the staff and people calling with housing crisis needs (¾ of the 80-100 calls per day) to have CES funds depleted so early. Then, those calling are turned away with rarely any other place to which they can be referred during the remainder of the month.
Besides the crisis in housing, there has been an increase in the need for assistance with food. There are more and more inner city people having trouble making ends meet due to higher rent costs, lower incomes and/or being unemployed or underemployed. With money going to pay other bills, food often becomes one of the last things bought. Thus, the need for greater amounts of food at CES is very evident!