Meet Mary & John

Mary and her husband John live in Pawling. Their only income is John’s disability, and Mary is in the process of applying for SSD. They are behind in rent due to COVID and applied for help through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

Mary said that their landlord cooperated with the application. While they received utility assistance from ERAP, they are still waiting for help with their rent. The 211 call specialist was able to help Mary check on the status of the ERAP funds. Additionally, the call specialist identified Mary and John as HEAP eligible and advised her of the Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS) as they owe $900 towards their utility.

After Mary mentioned that her landlord was behind on his mortgage, the call specialist provided information on the New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund to share.

Mary stated, “Thank you for all this help. I feel the tension lifting off my shoulders after talking to you.”

Meet Michael

Michael lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he struggled especially when his wife lost hers too. They had very little money to pay bills and get by day to day. Then Michael became sick with COVID-19, which presented more challenges to his family. Fortunately he recovered, but still struggled to find work. As a result, Michael and his wife moved in with a close family member who was also struggling to find a job without reliable transportation. The entire family needed help. Thankfully, a United Way funded partner was able to provide the support they needed. Michael and his family received utility vouchers and assistance with the cost of food, housing and other essential expenses. This support gave them a hand up to avoid further crisis, while they found employment and got back on their feet financially. 

To help other struggling families like Michael's, contribute to our Valentine's Day appeal: www.uwdor.org/valentinesday

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