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For rental assistance...
Posted by: "Judy Schilling" jschilling@caowash.org
Mon May 4, 2009 4:18 pm (PDT)
Hello everyone,
I know we've all experienced a great increase in calls for help with rental assistance. Last month at Community Action we received over 750 calls for help, and our program is really only able to help approximately 40 families per month. I just want to clarify a few things about our operations, including a very important announcement regarding this month. On May 8, Community Action will be shutting down all its programs for one day, while we convene at our annual Wellness Day. This year it happened to coincide with our "rent day," which we schedule during the time people receive their 72-hour notices to vacate - the 8th of each month. Even though our offices will be closed, our phone crew will still be taking and receiving calls for rent that morning as usual. Lately we have seen an increase in people showing up at our door on rent day, thinking they might be able to make appointments for assistance. However, we changed our program operations last year, and we only schedule appointments for rent assistance by phone. We have 2 offices, one in Beaverton and one in Hillsboro, but a singular scheduling system that works from our phone messages. So please, do not encourage anyone to come to our offices instead of calling, because that does not help them to get in the queue. And this month in particular, we will be unable to assist people who show up at the door.
Also, we do have a new phone system, and it will drop any messages left before 8 a.m. on May 8. Only calls received after that time will be put in the queue for call-backs. Some people have been calling as early as midnight, but these calls will be dropped. After we have scheduled appointments for the funds we have, we do change our message so that callers know we are unable to help. This month we have received additional funds from United Way's Community Relief Fund, so we will be helping at least 100 families. If you refer anyone, tell them to be sure and speak slowly and clearly when they leave their name and phone number. The phone number to call is (503) 615-0770. Judy Schilling
Manager, Energy & Emergency Rent Assistance
Community Action
1001 SW Baseline, Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 693-3225
Charla Chamberlain
Program/Administrative Coordinator
Vision Action Network
3700 SW Murray Blvd. Suite 190
Beaverton, OR 97005
phone: 503-846-5792 fax: 503-846-5793
email: charla_chamberlain@co.washington.or.us
website: http://www.visionactionnetwork.org |
