8-year-old Olivia probably doesn’t look unusual to you. She could be one of your neighbor’s daughters. Or a grandchild maybe. But there are differences you can’t see – Olivia goes to bed hungry most nights. Soon, she may have no place to call home. Olivia’s mom is going to school and working part-time. The family is barely making ends meet. The starter on the car went out last month. The rent payment is two weeks past due. If rent isn’t paid in the next three days, Olivia and her mother will be evicted. Like more than 10,000 other families this year, they will seek and receive emergency assistance from the Des Moines Area Religious Council.
DMARC COMPASSION IN ACTION is an emergency assistance program that provides financial subsidies to ensure housing stability and prevent families from becoming homeless.
Seek Assistance
The Salvation Army processes requests for Compassion in Action assistance. If you need assistance, call the Salvation Army at 515-282-3422. A Salvation Army staff member will either respond to the request directly or make a referral to a more appropriate service provider. After business hours, please call 2-1-1.
Guidelines
- Funds are disbursed only when available and if there are no public monies to meet the request.
- One request per household in a 12-month period.
- Requests are confidential and assistance is provided on a non-discriminatory basis.
- Intake process requires income/expense verification and documentation of needed assistance.
- Types of requests considered:
Housing – Rent deposits; rent and mortgage payments
Utility support – Power is off or power will be disconnected in a short time; cannot make the payment without assistance.
Miscellaneous – Identification documents, i.e. birth certificate, social security card; prescriptions; bus pass or ticket; and similar.
Compassion in Action by the Numbers
October 2009 – September 2010
$27,000 was provided by DMARC
93% of assistance helped with housing and utility expenses
7% of subsidies assisted with urgent one-time needs such as medical prescriptions, bus tickets, eyeglasses, and similar items
150 families and 362 people benefited, including 165 children
$543 = average need for financial assistance
$178 = average assistance provided by DMARC
$851/month = average income of families served, or $10,212/year
Program Partners
DMARC is grateful for the following partner organizations that provide matching funds and broaden available safety net resources.
Bidwell Riverside Center
CROSS Ministries
St. Mary Family Center/Catholic Charities
St. Vincent de Paul