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Crisis Ministry

Crisis Ministry

For many of the working poor, living pay check-to-paycheck means there is no savings account or one month’s salary saved for emergencies. Numerous situations such as a loss of spouse, a long-term illness, lost job or even a car breaking down can send good, hard working-people into a crisis. When this occurs, rent, utilities and other bills go unpaid, starting a downward spiral of unfortunate circumstances, often leading to eviction. In many cases, these families do not qualify for government assistance and do not know where to turn for help.

Our Crisis Team works with local, Wake County school social workers, partner agencies and churches to help those who are at this critical juncture and need temporary assistance to get back on their feet. ADTH provides one-time, financial assistance in addition to partnering with other local agencies to meet the immediate needs of the family and return them to self-sufficiency. Our Crisis Team carefully screens each referral, discussing income, verifying employment, speaking with landlords, etc. to ensure that we are not only good stewards of our funds, but that we are able to meet the needs of the recipient and return them to stability.

Recipients of our Crisis Ministry must:

  • Have at least one employed adult in household.
  • Be referred be an ADTH affiliated social worker or agency who has been working with family for at least three months.
  • Be a resident of Wake County
  • Provide a reason for recent crisis. Recipients cannot be ongoing cycle of unpaid bills or chronic issues.
  • All payments are made directly to the landlord or bill collector

ADTH’s Crisis Ministry is unique. By partnering with community agencies and caseworkers in Wake County, we provide the following programs to families:

Rent Assistance

ADTH provides funds to help families facing homelessness stay in their current living arrangement, as well as help families coming out of homelessness pay for rental deposits for new housing. Rental assistance helps families regain self-sufficiency and prevents the debilitating sting of eviction. We partner with agencies including such as Dorcas Ministries, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Family Promise, and Families Together.

Food & Clothing Assistance

ADTH assists families-in-need of food or clothing by providing gift cards, vouchers to our partner agency Catholic Parish Outreach, or referrals to partner agencies such as Dorcas Ministries, Note In the Pocket, Western Wake Crisis Ministries and other community agencies. Household Furnishing Assistance – ADTH provides to provide household goods and furnishings to families who can move into a dwelling but are lacking necessary kitchen, linens and furniture. ADTH partners with A Green Chair Project to share in providing furnishings for a dwelling, and we also welcome provide each family to their new home with a basket of essential household goods such as toilet paper, detergent and paper towels, toothpaste etc. In addition, ADTH fills a gap by in providing items unavailable at The Green Chair Project. For example, ADTH will purchase new beds toddlers and adults.

Child Care Assistance

ADTH provide after-school and before-school child care for working poor families. Families at the poverty level often do not have the additional means to pay for childcare and oftentimes a loss of childcare can result in a loss of income, with a cascading effect on bills. We provide assistance for childcare through partnering agencies such as Wake County Public School and the YMCA, or help to keep a child with their current childcare provider. In addition, we work with the YMCA to provide summer camps to children who cannot afford it.

Utility Assistance

ADTH provides families with deposits for new utility services or helps with overdue and current bills in order to sustain the current utility services and prevent services from being discontinued.

Here’s what your financial contribution can do:

  • $5,000 Helps an entrepreneur build a business
  • $2,500 Helps prevent eviction
  • $1,000 Provides rent assistance in times of a crisis
  • $750 Provides childcare for a working mom
  • $500 Provides furnishings for an entire home
  • $250 Provides beds for two children
  • $100 Ensures a family has food to eat
  • $50 Buys gas so a parent can travel to work