Plant closings and layoffs here are sending shock waves through Rowan Helping Ministries.
On recent mornings dozens of people have been lined up at 9 a.m. when the doors open.
Staffers say it’s never happened before.
Some need help with food, clothing, or shelter.
The biggest need is for money to pay heating costs, according to Dianne Scott, who heads the organization.
Early this week the agency was on the verge of running out of money. Late Thursday they were notified that $74,000 more will be coming in state and federal assistance in the crisis intervention program through the Department of Social Services.
Although it may sound like a lot money, Scott said it will be used up quickly if the winter chill and layoffs continue.
Many of those applying for the $300 heating vouchers are first-timers.
“They all say they never thought they would be in this situation,” said Bunny Whitaker, crisis assistance manager. “Usually we have one or two new clients a day. The other day we had 10 first-time users.”
“There’s so many layoffs and very few jobs. They’re applying everywhere and getting nowhere in finding a job,” said Whitaker.
Betty Jean Prewitt, director of Cooperative Christian Ministries in Cabarrus County, said her agency is seeing more people this year than last, and many new faces seeking help.
A lot of that increase, she said, can be attributed to higher heating costs, some to the layoffs at
Pillowtex, where folks don’t make enough money to live off their savings for very long, and still more to the county’s rapid population growth.
“When there are more people in your community, there are more impoverished people in your community,” she said.
Prewitt’s agency, which relies mainly on private donations, has referred more people this year to the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services for state and federal crisis assistance to help pay high heating bills.
The agency also is seeing an increase in the number of people coming in for other types of assistance, such as clothing, food or help paying for prescriptions.
“That may mean they’re paying their gas bills and couldn’t pay for their rent or medicine,” she said.
Whitaker said many of the new clients in Rowan are construction workers. The record cold December sent a chill through the construction work force.
So far this year, the agency has received and spent more than $335,000 from two different federal programs that provide assistance to families with children, elderly or sick. The agency estimates that the funds have affected 4,500 Rowan residents.
The Crisis Assistance section of the Helping Ministries has added staff to deal with the deluge of applicants and is trying to get more volunteers to help.
In normal years, the agency has seen 15 to 20 people daily. Now they have from 45 to 60 people lined up waiting to ask for help.
A veteran of more than five years in the crisis program, Whitaker said the staff is having a tough time.
“We can only see 25 or 30 a day. We are having to tell people, ‘We can’t help you today. You will have to come back.’”
“I don’t like turning anyone away. We’re maxed out,” said Whitaker.
Under the program guidelines, qualifying applicants receive vouchers for $300 to pay for heat, whether it’s electricity, gas or fuel oil.
Agency officials have been hoping for more money that would allow a second payment of $300 to clients who are being overwhelmed by the high costs of fuel. They know that $300 isn’t going very far when families are facing $1.55 a gallon for heating oil.
The agency staff checks daily to find the best price.
The agency does have other funds available for heating costs from private donations and grants, but those are limited to $100 per client.
Scott and Whitaker said more federal assistance is needed. Many of the clients who received the $300 vouchers, need more assistance. With the highest heating costs in recent memory, $300 won’t go far.
“They’re facing huge bills and have no way to pay them,” said Whitaker.
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