Emergency assistance from Eastern Area Community Ministries.
Partnering with churches and faith based groups, the Eastern Area Community Ministries (EACM) provides the needy with various forms of assistance. Some of the programs include homeless prevention and free food or meals. There may also be emergency funds for expenses such as back rent or paying utility bills, and EACM also operates seasonal support, such as free Christmas meals or gifts.
EACM’s Emergency Assistance Program provides help to qualified or working poor families that are faced with a onetime crisis. There are items such as prescription medications, government grants for paying rental expenses, and utility bill assistance. If the charity can you’re your needs, then referrals may be provided too. For example, community residents from Louisville who are struggling with paying heating bills, or are looking at imminent service shut-off, can turn to for help in keeping their homes warm, and this will include referrals to the national LIHEAP program.
Similar to above, the Crisis Assistance Service may have emergency financial assistance, or sometimes no interest loans, to Louisville area residents experiencing crisis situations. Funds are available for a variety of purposes, such as the provision of first month’s rent, security deposit, a recurring rent expense or mortgage payments, or the cost of prescription drugs in life threatening conditions.
To be eligible for Crisis Assistance from Eastern Area Community Ministries, the Jefferson County family must be in a resolvable situation. So it needs to be a onetime hardship, and they also need to be using 50 percent of your available income to furnish basic needs for yourself and your family. Lastly, the applicant needs to be also residing in affordable permanent housing but maybe they need one time help.
The Homeless Assistance Program at EACM was created in an effort to help by providing case management services and support programs. There is aid to stop evictions and help for those who are homeless or that may be unsure where they will sleep on a night-to-night basis. Please call your local Outreach office for information in regard to these and other services.
However, examples of some services that may be offered include Temporary Shelter or free Motel Voucher for the homeless or recently evicted. More pro-actively, the agency may offer one time Rent Assistance, Case Management Services, and Grants as a form of Security Deposit Assistance.
Those in need of help often are not aware of the services, whether private or government benefits, that may be available to them. In response to this, EACM’s Community Service Workers are available to provide information regarding the financial or public assistance programs offered by Social Services, ICAP, County Welfare and other agencies and organizations. The staff from the charity also provide referrals to agencies outside of EACM when appropriate.
Based on an assessment to determine needs, strengths, and obstacles, the Helping Hands Partnership is a key referral service. It provides links to community resources, local churches that offer help, supportive mentors, and rewards as individuals and families work toward reaching goals.
Food assistance is part of the Dare to Care Distribution Site, which is EACM’s free pantry for the poor and low income. The center provides short-term emergency support to members of the Louisville community who have stretched their household budgets to the breaking point or that are facing a crisis. Too many families from Jefferson County are still unable to put enough food on the table for themselves or their children.
Each eligible visitor is furnished with up to a three-day supply of nutritionally balanced food, with items from each of the major food groups. Last year, EACM was able to meet thousands of orders from the region. The pantry funding is provided by a number of sources, both private donations, local businesses, and from surplus government commodities.
The purpose of the Eastern Area Community Ministries Youth and Family Services is to respond to the unmet needs of students, youth, and families in the greater Louisville area community. For example, Good Start for Kids provides essential baby care items for free, while Meals on Wheels delivers free hot and healthy meals to the disabled and eligible senior adults, and other aid is provided too.
Free school supplies may be distributed as well. Many local school districts often require that students start the school year with specific items or clothes for their students. These items can be expensive, and lower-income families may not be able to purchase them, leaving their children at a disadvantage. To help, EACM hosts a Back 2 School event, which furnishes free book bags, books and school supplies for children and youth.
The main goal of the Latino Outreach Services Program is to assist immigrants and Latino neighbors with becoming immersed and integrated into the greater Kentucky community. The bilingual staff work with each client to determine which EACM services are needed and provide referrals to them, whether it is employment or housing or more. Available services include interpretation and translation services, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, advocacy, and referrals to community resources.
Location and contact number for Eastern Area Ministry
The location and contact information for Eastern Area Community Ministries is 9104 Westport Rd., Louisville, Kentucky 40242. Call 502-426-2824.
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