Des Moines Register
Like thousands of Iowans, Matt Brummett lost a job he loved during the COVID-19 pandemic and has teetered for weeks on the edge of losing his home and being cut off from utilities.
Last year ended with nearly 185,000 Iowans, many struggling with lost jobs and reduced hours from the coronavirus crisis, owing $36 million in past-due gas and electric bills, 25% more than in 2019, state records show.
A national housing report shows that as many as 106,000 Iowans also owe a combined total of about $114 million on their rent. Despite an Iowa unemployment rate that s fallen recently to near pre-COVID-19 levels, expert say the struggle to cover the cost of basic necessities shows many low-income Iowans haven t yet escaped the pandemic-driven recession.
The first monthly “Foundation Friday” promotion is being held by the Community Foundation of Washington County, serving to raise awareness of the foundation’s work in establishing endowments for local causes with a fundraiser going on this week as well.
As the foundation cancelled their annual fundraiser last fall, the Washington Fareway is partnering with them for a roundup fundraiser from now through January 23rd. Executive Director Millie Youngquist says on the fourth Friday of each month, various businesses in Washington County will offer promotional material on the foundation and what current endowments you can donate towards, or whether you’d like to form your own, “The minimum amount to start your own fund is $10,000 and there is no fee to set up the fund. And the organization that receives the distribution needs to be a non profit, preferably with a 501(c)(3) status, then there’s an agreement that is written. We can accept donations of cash, we can accept stocks,
Several organizations presented their fiscal year 2022 funding requests to the Washington County Board of Supervisors this week.
Jane Drapeaux and Renella Crawford of Hawkeye Area Community Action Program asked for the same funding amount as previous years, and Ryan Schlabaugh of the English River Watershed Management Authority requested the same as last year at $7,500. Washington Economic Development Group Executive Director Mary Audia and Board Treasurer Brent Hinson asked if the county could become an equal partner with the city of Washington in funding for WEDG, asking for $30,000, an increase from $21,000 last year. Main Street Washington Executive Director Sarah Grunewaldt requested that the county increase their funding by 2% this coming fiscal year for cost of living increases, equalling a total of $6,971. No action was taken on any of these requests.
HACAP has named an outreach director for their Dubuque County office.
Ron Axtell will oversee the coordination of resources and community engagement for the county’s HACAP programs. Axtell comes to HACAP after nearly thirty years at ECIA, where he most recently served as Employment & Training Director.
HACAP, also known as Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, merged with Operation New View Community Action Agency in October – expanding HACAP’s services in Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties.
They have not yet named an outreach director in Delaware County.
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Images showing long lines of cars waiting to get boxes of food from pantries offer a visual representation of the hardships 2020 has imposed on Iowa families.
The coronavirus pandemic and this summer’s extreme weather in Eastern Iowa have led to increased need for food assistance. Since the federal government is offering meager and unstable assistance, Iowans in the public and private sectors must step up to keep our neighbors fed.
Many service providers are making the same observation - they have an existing base of repeat clients, but they’re also seeing new clients who are seeking assistance for their first time. That surge in demand comes as the pandemic is interrupting nonprofits’ operations, necessitating new pantry models like the drive-through pick-ups recently seen in news photos and broadcasts.