HOPE NOW partners with Elkhorn fund to assist those in emergency financial situations
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
With the help of the Elkhorn Fund, HOPE NOW, Inc., has been able to help about 30 households in their time of need over the past three years.
HOPE NOW Inc., helps families and individuals within the Elkhorn Area School District with emergency financial assistance for things such as rent, utilities, medical bills, vehicle repairs and more. The organization meets with those in need every second and fourth Tuesday night of the month with a goal of helping those in need meet short-term needs that might otherwise have much larger damage and a longer lasting effect on their lives.
According to Tim Middleton of the Elkhorn Fund, HOPE NOW has learned over the past 12 years that cars are one of the most important family resources. In a press release, Middleton wrote that according to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 70 percent of rural residents have limited or no access to public transportation option. Additionally, he noted the 20 percent of American households with the least income spend 35 percent of their income on their cars.
Middleton noted the story of a young man who lost a job last winter, ultimately leaving him homeless. When he found a new job however, his car was sitting in a garage waiting on repairs the man couldn’t afford.
In talking with staff from HOPE NOW, Inc., Middleton said the true need soon became apparent: getting the car repaired.
“The job meant he would be able to eventually get back into an apartment and achieve some kind of stability,” he said. “Without the job he’d remain homeless, but without the car he’d never be able to keep the job in the first place.
“The cost of car repairs has a tremendous impact on a family’s ability to meet all of its responsibilities,” he wrote.
Middleton said this is why the fund has contributed a total of $6,000 to the organization over the past three years and though it hasn’t helped cover all vehicle needs the organization encounters, it has made a significant difference.
To help HOPE NOW Inc., contributions can be made directly to HOPE NOW, Inc., 107 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn, WI 53121. Contributions can also be made by designating HOPE NOW, Inc., as the recipient during United Way Campaigns. For more on supporting the Elkhorn Fund, visit cfsw.org and search for the Elkhorn Fund.
