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About
Vera V. Naumann Family Emergency Assistance
Vera V. Naumann FEA is a non-profit corporation organized under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. It is a non-profit, charitable organization organized exclusively for the prevention of homelessness and to assist residents of the City of Harlingen and surrounding areas on a short term basis for emergency assistance due to economic factors affecting indigent families.
The Rio Grande Valley has a population of approximately 1,000,000 citizens with 48% of the population having less than a high school education. According to a Texas Adult Literacy Survey, 50 to 60 percent of the Valley population lack the basic skills to function successfully in our society. It has been estimated that one-third of the Valley’s residents live on the edge of becoming homeless. A series of events such as divorce, domestic violence, drug abuse, loss of employment, illness, or un-reimbursed medical expenses can move anyone from being housed to homeless in a flash. In many cases, the help with one month’s rent, paying a past due utility bill, or simply getting some help with food and clothes, could prevent an onset of homelessness.
The Vera Naumann Family Emergency Assistance (FEA), established in 1939, was added to the Loaves and Fishes organization in February of 2006 as its homeless prevention arm. In order to receive emergency assistance, clients must demonstrate that the emergency is temporary in nature and that there is a reasonable prospect that a financially stable household will re-emerge. All clients are counseled on financial management and are provided with information on other available social services that may help them avoid a further incident of being on the brink of becoming homeless.
Year-end Results for 2007
- Assisted 78 families avoid eviction from their apartment or home.
- Assisted 152 families avoid utility cutoff.
- Helped 43 individuals avoid making the choice between prescription drugs and paying rent, utility bills or going hungry.
- Provided 940 families with food bags.
- Aided 99 Disabled Veterans with non-cash assistance.
- 2,564 families received clothes and household items.
- Referred 2,172 clients to other service agencies.
The main goal of Family Emergency Assistance is helping families avoid homelessness. To this end, the amount of support in each area (rent, utility, etc.) is measured. The staff of the FEA follows-up with clients to see if the assistance accomplished its goal. In the geographical area we serve, available funds are the limiting factors to overall success. In other words, the need is greater than the ability to help.
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