Financial Ministry
Many of our neighbors do receive some financial assistance such as Social Security and/or disability. They remain homeless due to their inability to manage their limited funds due to poor habits, addictions or limited capacity.
We counsel our neighbors on planning and budgeting their resources. For those who struggle with budgeting, we have become a Social Security Representative Payee Agency. Our neighbors request to Social Security that their benefits be paid directly to us. We receive their funds, then pay their bills, such as rent, cell phone, medical etc. and the remainder of the funds are divided so that they receive some funds each week for food and personal expenses.
Previously most of them received a monthly check at the beginning of the month, cash it and the money is gone in 3-10 days leaving them without any funds for the second half of the month. By planning weekly “personal spending” even if they spend all their money one weekend they will still receive another weekly “personal spending” the next week. It helps them understand budgeting and planning so they can hopefully be able to manage their money by themselves in the future. To date all of our neighbors, in the program, have found or maintained housing.
This ministry has needs for mostly men, and a few women, to work directly with our neighbors on budgeting and financial planning. Most of our neighbors receive $690 to $1,000 per month. A rooming house in Manchester averages $550 per month leaving some of them only $140 a month for food, clothing, cell phone, medical and other personal expenses. Careful planning and using existing resources, such as food pantries, clothing ministries and medical clinics helps stretch their limited funds.
Our leadership team manages the actual funds. Volunteers work with the neighbors on budgeting their funds and presenting the plan to the leadership team for review and disbursement of funds such as paying bills, weekly transfers to debit cards, etc.
We counsel our neighbors on planning and budgeting their resources. For those who struggle with budgeting, we have become a Social Security Representative Payee Agency. Our neighbors request to Social Security that their benefits be paid directly to us. We receive their funds, then pay their bills, such as rent, cell phone, medical etc. and the remainder of the funds are divided so that they receive some funds each week for food and personal expenses.
Previously most of them received a monthly check at the beginning of the month, cash it and the money is gone in 3-10 days leaving them without any funds for the second half of the month. By planning weekly “personal spending” even if they spend all their money one weekend they will still receive another weekly “personal spending” the next week. It helps them understand budgeting and planning so they can hopefully be able to manage their money by themselves in the future. To date all of our neighbors, in the program, have found or maintained housing.
This ministry has needs for mostly men, and a few women, to work directly with our neighbors on budgeting and financial planning. Most of our neighbors receive $690 to $1,000 per month. A rooming house in Manchester averages $550 per month leaving some of them only $140 a month for food, clothing, cell phone, medical and other personal expenses. Careful planning and using existing resources, such as food pantries, clothing ministries and medical clinics helps stretch their limited funds.
Our leadership team manages the actual funds. Volunteers work with the neighbors on budgeting their funds and presenting the plan to the leadership team for review and disbursement of funds such as paying bills, weekly transfers to debit cards, etc.