Assistance with Client's Bills (continued)

While we are set up primarily to serve residents of the WUMCO area, we also receive calls for assistance in nearby areas of the County from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (MCDHHS), or the Upper Montgomery Assistance Network (UMAN), or Damascus Help for help with cases ahving an immediate need exceeding what is otherwise available. In such instances, resources permitting, we normally will agree to not more than 50% of what the leading non-profit agency in that area is willing to pay. For example, if UMAN limits its expenditure to $300 for a case in its own territory, our limit for that case would be $150. Similar financing is often negotiated on behalf of a WUMCO client.

We verify bills with the utility company, landlord, or other payee. Our telephoned pledge to a landlord or utility company is sufficient, in most instances, to stave off an eviction or utility termination or to restore service.

In 2005 we spent $21,879 in assisting 62 clients with medical services, including help with financing 526 prescriptions. Volunteers driving their own cars, carrying 229 clients to medical appointments, provided most of our medical transpotation.

Housing-related services are the largest, money-wise, of our programs: $58,005 in 2005. This included $32,644 in utilities for 66 families and $25,361 in housing (mostly rent or mortgage) for 46 families.

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