Project Lift/Back On Track Annual Report: 2021

Prepared by Elaine Strokoff, Director of Financial Assistance & Food Security & Steven Schauder, Executive Director

Overview

Since 2017, through the generosity of our donors, Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg supported some of the most vulnerable members of our community through our Back on Track Initiative and Project Lift.

Back on Track offers emergency financial support to individuals and families who run the risk of “falling through the cracks,” due to short term financial problems. These emergency problems can often be eliminated by a “lift” in the form of a minimal one-time offer of financial support.

Project Lift connects individuals and families with JFS services as well as with those provided by other social service organizations. These services can benefit those who may already be in the JFS system as mental health therapy clients but could also benefit from a “lift” of additional social services.

The Year in Review

In the year 2021, JFS engaged and assessed 117 clients in case management with Project Lift and the Back on Track programs. This year, we have seen a 26% increase in clients served, going from serving 91 clients last year to 117 this year. Over the course of the year, JFS distributed $32,182 to clients in need, an increase of 8% over the prior year. Of those 117 clients, 74 were women and 33 were men; 45 were Jewish.

Stories of Those we Helped

Leon

“Leon,” a was living in an apartment above a local shop. One night he came home to find the building on fire though luckily, he and his roommate were not in the apartment when the fire started. All of Leon’s belongings were destroyed, and though he was grateful to be alive, he struggled with displacement and PTSD. He was unable to work and lost his job. The Red Cross found him temporary housing, but he turned to JFS to help him find more permanent housing. JFS provided the funds to sustain Leon while he looked for a new job and a new place to live. Shortly thereafter Leon was able to find a new job and eventually a new apartment. He is “forever grateful” to JFS for helping him during an extremely stressful time in his life. He continues to work and remain self-sufficient.

Lilly

“Lilly” was trapped in an abusive relationship, and she felt she had to leave the house for her safety and the safety of her two school age children. Her best option was to move in with her aunt, though her aunt struggled with mental health issues. As her aunt’s struggles exacerbated, Lilly and her girls had no choice but to leave the aunt’s house and they moved in with a friend. One of the daughters came down with Covid-19 which forced Lilly to stay home for several weeks to be with her child. Lily was trying to better herself and had begun taking nursing classes to be the sole provider for her children., though with a sick child, she had to stop taking her classes. She applied for part time jobs as a home health care provider. This work became unreliable due to bouts of Covid-19 among her clients. Even so, eventually Lilly began saving money for a security deposit for an apartment. Lilly called JFS in hope of receiving some financial aid to add to the money she had saved. JFS was able to help and shortly Lilly and her girls, ages 11 and 13, moved into a place of their own. Lilly plans to begin her nurse training in the future pending child support from her husband.

Ongoing Challenges

· Coronavirus affecting the loss of jobs & decreasing work hours.

· Clients who move without forwarding addresses.

· Clients who do not have computers.

· Individuals with skills limited for working minimum wage jobs.

· People who struggle to break the cycle of generational poverty.

· Clients who have to live in their cars.

· Single mothers trying to provide for themselves and their children.

· Clients who do not make enough in wages to accrue savings.

Looking Ahead to 2022

“When will this end?” is often the last words we hear from community members coming to JFS for financial assistance and case management. They are referring to the stresses of Covid which is now about to enter a third year. While we have all faced mental health challenges over the past two years, some community members are struggling to put food on their tables and keep a roof over their heads. Through the very generous on-going support of our donors, JFS is fully prepared to meet the needs of community members in crisis in the coming year. Our focus will be on:

Jewish Family Service is indebted to the following donors who have sustained and supported Back on Track and Project Lift in 2021. These donors has enabled JFS to positively impact the lives of hundreds of community members.
$15,000 The Alexander Grass Foundation
$5,000-$14,999 The Good People Fund
               Lois Lehrman Grass
               Charles and Nancy Shaffer
               Karolyn and Edward Shellehamer
               Diane Schultz
$1,000-$1,799  Inez and Bennett Chotiner
               Nevin Mindlin
 Under $100     Chisuk Emuna Congregation
*JFS is indebted to Ellen & Michael (z”l) Geduldig who seeded this initiative.