HARTFORD – Mary Tunison says that helping people get back on sound financial footing can be both scary and rewarding. Scary, because people in need are depending on her. Rewarding, because hundreds of families have been helped by the parish-based program she coordinates, the Emergency Assistance Fund.
Funded entirely through donations to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, the Emergency Assistance Fund helps struggling parishioners and their families with basic human needs, including food, clothing, rental or mortgage assistance, car repairs (for commuting to work), credit counseling, job coaching, employment programs and more.
"Sometimes it’s very challenging," said Ms. Tunison, who processes requests from pastors to assist parishioners. "You can’t help but be part of these people’s lives when you take this job. Some are in dire straits. They’re in foreclosure, or they’re about to have their electricity shut off."
Archbishop Henry J. Mansell initiated the Emergency Assistance Fund in March 2009 in response to the severe economic downturn. Administered by Catholic Charities, it operates at the parish level, where pastors review requests for assistance from parishioners.
"We help many parishioners each day in one form or another," Ms. Tunison said. "Most of the time, it’s to give a leg up. Maybe they need car repairs, their bills are behind. We try to get them back on track in a positive direction."
In its first 12 months of operation, ending March 2010, 138 of the Archdiocese’s 213 parishes participated, she said. During that time, there were 413 referrals for grants totaling $295,729, she added.
Since February of this year, 76 parishes have participated, and about 100 individuals or families have been helped. The fund has disbursed about $70,000 in that time frame, she said.
Rose Alma Senatore, chief executive officer for Catholic Charities in Hartford, said she requests money as needed from the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for the Emergency Assistance Fund. "I ask the Archbishop for $100,000 at a time," she said. "We talked about another $200,000 for this year."
In an interview earlier this year, Ms. Senatore said that during the first full year, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal allocated $350,000 to Catholic Charities to administer the fund.
About 83 percent of the requests are to help with rent/housing and utilities, Ms. Tunison said. "It seems to be the most basic of all needs," she said.
She stressed that the purpose of the fund is to give a one-time boost to someone in need, not to take over monthly payments on a long-term basis. "We pay a gas bill or prevent shut-off or eviction at times, but more important, once the situation is stabilized, we try to position the person into a more self-sustainable situation for the future by offering advice, additional referrals, setting them up with affordable or matching payment plans with their utility companies, providing helpful information on household budgeting," she said.
In the process, she said, parishioners often become aware that "the Church has been there for them. If we help each person who comes to us in small ways like this, I guess each story is a success story," she said.
She recalled a family of five who found housing because of the fund. "[The] family lost their home to foreclosure," she said. "[They] lived on the street. We worked with a family agency in Waterbury, where the family lived." The agency arranged for the family to find residence in someone’s summer home, she said.
"I’m basically the behind-the-scenes person," Ms. Tunison said. "The pastor meets with [parishioners in need]. Once the pastor has spoken to them, he faxes me an approved referral. I do the legwork, find out how I can best help them."
She said she is careful and thorough about how she helps people. "It does take a certain amount of time," she said. "When we get the referral, we also need to be good stewards of the Church’s money." Applicants need to complete paperwork and provide pay stubs or other proof of need.
"We don’t just give out money. We try to find practical means to find resources for people. We try to help them in many ways. It’s kind of a holistic approach," she said.
Information about receiving assistance through the Emergency Assistance Fund is available from pastors or by calling Catholic Charities at 1-888-405-1183.
