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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Hello From Montgomery County
Dayton Urban Ministries has invited us to their fine city to help people looking for foreclosure help apply for different benefits. I'm writing this on my lunch break and already the event has been a smashing success. We've already helped clients apply for an array of benefits including food assistance, cash assistance, and even senior employment.
A lot of the credit needs to go to Dayton Urban Ministries. We're working with two of their Americorps State members - Iris Gordon and Robin McElrath - who are also trained Benefit Bank counselors. They've been extremely welcoming and helpful.
We were also paid a visit by Jessica Janowiak from Solutions for Progress. "Solutions for Progress?" you ask. Yes, Solutions for Progress. They're the developers of the Ohio Benefit Bank software. This makes them a big deal. Ms. Janowiak was watching us use the software and looking to make it more user friendly. It's a testament to Jessica's company that I've been on the Mobile Express since April and there have been several changes in that time to make the Benefit Bank system faster, smoother, and easier for clients to obtain the benefits they're eligible for. To have one of their employees over my shoulder knowing that it could help people across the country was truly an honor.
A lot of the credit needs to go to Dayton Urban Ministries. We're working with two of their Americorps State members - Iris Gordon and Robin McElrath - who are also trained Benefit Bank counselors. They've been extremely welcoming and helpful.
We were also paid a visit by Jessica Janowiak from Solutions for Progress. "Solutions for Progress?" you ask. Yes, Solutions for Progress. They're the developers of the Ohio Benefit Bank software. This makes them a big deal. Ms. Janowiak was watching us use the software and looking to make it more user friendly. It's a testament to Jessica's company that I've been on the Mobile Express since April and there have been several changes in that time to make the Benefit Bank system faster, smoother, and easier for clients to obtain the benefits they're eligible for. To have one of their employees over my shoulder knowing that it could help people across the country was truly an honor.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Chili Giveaway Leads to Dozens of Enrollments
For the past week, our Mobile Express has been out of commission. A generator malfunction was putting our equipment at risk, so we needed to get some maintenance done. The work on the generator wasn't invasive, it just took some time. Erin and I needed to find other ways to keep ourselves busy.
Our office really stepped up with ways to fill the time.
Emily Forsee, an Americorps member, organized a huge outreach event at our Direct Service Office in downtown Columbus. Last Wednesday, the DSO hosted a huge chili giveaway. Emily worked to get ingredients and bread donated to our office. She got all the important permits. She made the coffee and printed out the advertisements which were put up around the city. People came from all over the city to get some free chili (which was delicious).
The free food attracted a lot of people having trouble making ends meet. Many of these people were homeless. Unfortunately, the homeless have trouble getting food stamps since Job and Family Services requires a mailing address to send the Food Assistance Benefit Transfer Card as well as other correspondence.
Well, for the first time in our office's history, clients without mailing addresses will be able to use our office as their primary address. This will allow food stamps to go to those who had previously been unable to obtain them.
These efforts led to 58 new applications for Food Assistance and other programs. Fifty-eight! I was honored to be a part of those 58 applications. I hate to speak for Erin, but I'm going to assume that she's proud too.*
What a great event. Here's hoping that we have another day like this in the near future.
*Pride has since been confirmed
Our office really stepped up with ways to fill the time.
Emily Forsee, an Americorps member, organized a huge outreach event at our Direct Service Office in downtown Columbus. Last Wednesday, the DSO hosted a huge chili giveaway. Emily worked to get ingredients and bread donated to our office. She got all the important permits. She made the coffee and printed out the advertisements which were put up around the city. People came from all over the city to get some free chili (which was delicious).
The free food attracted a lot of people having trouble making ends meet. Many of these people were homeless. Unfortunately, the homeless have trouble getting food stamps since Job and Family Services requires a mailing address to send the Food Assistance Benefit Transfer Card as well as other correspondence.
Well, for the first time in our office's history, clients without mailing addresses will be able to use our office as their primary address. This will allow food stamps to go to those who had previously been unable to obtain them.
These efforts led to 58 new applications for Food Assistance and other programs. Fifty-eight! I was honored to be a part of those 58 applications. I hate to speak for Erin, but I'm going to assume that she's proud too.*
What a great event. Here's hoping that we have another day like this in the near future.
*Pride has since been confirmed
Friday, November 6, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy
The last few weeks have been about as busy as we've ever been here on the Mobile Express. Highlights in the past few weeks have included the Great Pumpkin Show in Circleville and the start of the Home Energy Assistance Program right here in Columbus.
See that first link? Click it. Scroll down a few paragraphs and check out the picture of the 2009 prize winning pumpkins. The biggest was 1600 pounds. Have you ever seen a 1600 pumpkin before? Have you even considered a 1600 pound pumpkin before? I had two different people (Enrollment Specialist Jerry Lee and VISTA/Senior Employment Specialist Danielle Gray) with me over the course of the event, and I tried out the same joke: "Whoever planted those gigantic pumpkins must have been out of their gourd." Neither Jerry or Danielle laughed, but their contributions were appreciated regardless.
After speaking to hundreds of people in Circleville, the Mobile Express spent a week in The Breathing Association's parking lot to help people who were applying for emergency utility assistance. Those funds became available on November 1, so the Association expected quite the turnout.
While in that parking lot, we spoke to dozens of people and helped a few people apply for food stamps. I even did one person's back taxes, leading to an expected $1500 refund. It's always surprising to see how many hungry people are eligible for food assistance but still haven't applied. No matter how many times we run into these situations, it still shocks me. I'm proud that we are and will continue to work to close that gap.
See that first link? Click it. Scroll down a few paragraphs and check out the picture of the 2009 prize winning pumpkins. The biggest was 1600 pounds. Have you ever seen a 1600 pumpkin before? Have you even considered a 1600 pound pumpkin before? I had two different people (Enrollment Specialist Jerry Lee and VISTA/Senior Employment Specialist Danielle Gray) with me over the course of the event, and I tried out the same joke: "Whoever planted those gigantic pumpkins must have been out of their gourd." Neither Jerry or Danielle laughed, but their contributions were appreciated regardless.
After speaking to hundreds of people in Circleville, the Mobile Express spent a week in The Breathing Association's parking lot to help people who were applying for emergency utility assistance. Those funds became available on November 1, so the Association expected quite the turnout.
While in that parking lot, we spoke to dozens of people and helped a few people apply for food stamps. I even did one person's back taxes, leading to an expected $1500 refund. It's always surprising to see how many hungry people are eligible for food assistance but still haven't applied. No matter how many times we run into these situations, it still shocks me. I'm proud that we are and will continue to work to close that gap.
Friday, October 16, 2009
If You're Getting Out of Jail, Apply For Food Stamps!
I've been to three events recently that have targeted released and soon-to-be released felons who are eligible for benefits. Erin and I spent an entire day in Circleville where parole officers walked their wards over to the Mobile Express to have their eligibility checked. Jerry and I did the same in Sidney. And Erin and I, with a VISTA volunteer (thanks, Zach!) made another trip to Marion to help prisoners who were to be released to the general public in the next thirty days.
The trip to Marion clearly illustrated that many convicted criminals don't have jobs lined up for when they are released. And the trips to Sidney and Circleville hammered that point home. Unemployment remains a huge problem here in the Buckeye State. Being convicted of a felony greatly exacerbates that. Work is hard to find, and unemployment can lead to recidivism.
So why don't any of the ex-offenders we see have food stamps!?
There may be no greater population in need of public assistance and yet this is the population most likely to be eligible for something they're not taking advantage of. It's a problem. Hopefully, our trips to prisons will give these soon-to-be released inmates a jump start on receiving the benefits that can help provide for a second chance.
The trip to Marion clearly illustrated that many convicted criminals don't have jobs lined up for when they are released. And the trips to Sidney and Circleville hammered that point home. Unemployment remains a huge problem here in the Buckeye State. Being convicted of a felony greatly exacerbates that. Work is hard to find, and unemployment can lead to recidivism.
So why don't any of the ex-offenders we see have food stamps!?
There may be no greater population in need of public assistance and yet this is the population most likely to be eligible for something they're not taking advantage of. It's a problem. Hopefully, our trips to prisons will give these soon-to-be released inmates a jump start on receiving the benefits that can help provide for a second chance.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Pretzel Festival in Germantown
It goes without saying that if there's a festival revolving around a savory treat, the Mobile Express will find a way to be there. And there's so much you can do with a pretzel! Pizza pretzels, chocolate pretzels, pretzels with mustard. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination!
Alas, Germantown's Pretzel Festival was mysteriously devoid of pretzels. Lots of pretzel t-shirts, not so many of the salty starches we all know and love. So my second seat - Enrollment Wiz Stephanie Blessing - and I had to make due with deep fried Oreos. Oh, the sacrifices of the road.
All kidding aside, the organization that invited us to the festival was fantastic. The Community Action Mission Partnership (CAMP) consists of a series of churches in Germantown, Farmersville, and New Lebanon that offer services to those in need. Our contact with CAMP, Reverend Karel Hanhart, was enthusiastic to help us get the word out about CAMP being the only Benefit Bank site in the area. He did such a great job that we ran out of literature!
The moral of the story: pretzels don't make or break an event. The people do. And we couldn't have expected any better.
Alas, Germantown's Pretzel Festival was mysteriously devoid of pretzels. Lots of pretzel t-shirts, not so many of the salty starches we all know and love. So my second seat - Enrollment Wiz Stephanie Blessing - and I had to make due with deep fried Oreos. Oh, the sacrifices of the road.
All kidding aside, the organization that invited us to the festival was fantastic. The Community Action Mission Partnership (CAMP) consists of a series of churches in Germantown, Farmersville, and New Lebanon that offer services to those in need. Our contact with CAMP, Reverend Karel Hanhart, was enthusiastic to help us get the word out about CAMP being the only Benefit Bank site in the area. He did such a great job that we ran out of literature!
The moral of the story: pretzels don't make or break an event. The people do. And we couldn't have expected any better.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Mobile Express Makes Its First Trip to Prison
Did you know that taking a van into a prison yard requires lots of precautions? It's true! We weren't allowed to carry cell phones. Or money. Or any sharp objects. And you need to protect the van steering wheel with The Club. And we can't have our keys, those go to the prison guard in charge of supervising us.
Of course, when you're with sixty prisoners who are scheduled to be released in the next thirty days, all of the precautions are worth it.
A big thank you to Marion Correctional Institution for reaching out to us so we can help dozens of their soon to be released inmates integrate into general society. By starting the process of applying for food stamps, these inmates are one step ahead of the game!
The incarcerated are another demographic that can greatly benefit from using the Benefit Bank. Many prisons also double as Benefit Bank sites and we're always happy to help prisoners and their family members get the help that they need. This may have been the first event in a prison, but we suspect there will be many more valuable events within prison walls in the near future.
Of course, when you're with sixty prisoners who are scheduled to be released in the next thirty days, all of the precautions are worth it.
A big thank you to Marion Correctional Institution for reaching out to us so we can help dozens of their soon to be released inmates integrate into general society. By starting the process of applying for food stamps, these inmates are one step ahead of the game!
The incarcerated are another demographic that can greatly benefit from using the Benefit Bank. Many prisons also double as Benefit Bank sites and we're always happy to help prisoners and their family members get the help that they need. This may have been the first event in a prison, but we suspect there will be many more valuable events within prison walls in the near future.
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