Christian Relief Agency

Emergency Assistance

Clients needing assistance in the areas of food, clothing, medication, orthopedic equipment, rent/mortgage, utility bills, emergency transportation and furniture (as we have it!) can apply for assistance at the Intake Office located inside the front door of Wesley House Community Center, Inc. Applications may be taken Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

In order to apply, you must bring the following:

• Picture Identification cards for each member of family 18 years of age and older
• Proof of all income for the entire family
• Bills for the previous two months
• Social Security cards for each member of the family

After applications are complete, they are sent to the Executive Director in order to determine the best means of helping each client.

Individual Case Work and Management

Along with any financial assistance which may be given a client, Wesley House offers extensive case work/management in helping the client to get on their feet and become productive in their community. This is oftentimes done through personal financial planning, counseling sessions, through referrals, and through prayerful networking with individuals and businesses in town in order to best serve those in need. It is clear that housing six different agencies under the Wesley House roof is beneficial for all. The agencies are:

• Education
• Health Care
• Community
• Victim Services
• Emergency Christian Relief
• Connectional

Life Skills Course-12 Weeks

When clients return every other month, one has to stop and evaluate if we are truly helping that individual or family, or if we are enabling them to live comfortably in poverty. The answer given to us was a tremendous and emphatic “NO”! We felt that we needed to rethink this and found an answer in the 12 week Life Skills course offered under the Emergency Christian Relief Agency. Within that course, participants spend two weeks each on Family Dynamics, Spiritual Growth and Development, Health and Fitness, and Financial Management/Planning. Each person finishes the course with many life tools, an emergency budget as well as a budget for “normal” times, and a resume’…how can one be expected to interview for a job without an up to date resume’?

This program is mandated for those who have sought emergency assistance three times or more. It is recorded on their chart, they are placed on the role and they are expected to show up, receiving a certificate of completion at the end of the twelfth week.

These clients walk out feeling much taller and prouder because they are not just being told to find a job, rather, they are being taught how to go about that in a professional manner.

Fishes and Loaves Ministry

A system of checks and balances of clients and their actual needs, versus their wants. It is a one-on-one relationship with all the area ministers and their staffs, in an effort to stop the clients from receiving assistance from more than one agency repeatedly.

The churches involved in our fishes and loaves ministry all have a set form letter that explains what clients must bring to Wesly house in order to receive any assistance. The area churches give us jpart of their monies from their indigent relief funds to accommodate the clients needs or requests.

Vocational Assessment

Client is assessed according to the skills the applicant has acquired in the work force and it is determined which councelor should aid the client by determining a strategy for success in their job search. For example, a list would be made of their past jobs and help them to compile a resume’, which will help strengthen their self-confidence and worth.