Can you provide the resources to help your neighbors, friends, and community members who are in crisis?
The fabric of our beautiful community is very quietly shifting.
Most of us are aware that the acquisition and retention of housing for many residents and employees in our valley – a critical measure of an individual’s well-being and a community’s way to strengthen the roots of what helps us function – is a challenge we must tackle. However, you might not be aware of how many valley families are having to move further and further away from where they work. Or how our aging population is having to consider whether they can stay in the Wood River Valley at all.
We are seeing this shift every single day.
While more units of housing have been built or are in the pipeline, there are many, many households that just can’t wait. They are working two or more jobs. They are stressed about one bump in the road, like a rent increase or an overwhelming medical cost, that might throw their lives into chaos. The home that once housed two adults in our workforce and children in our schools is being replaced with new faces that may not yet have a stake in our community.
These families are our neighbors, our grocery checkers, our servers, our teachers, and our friends. We often don’t see that they are having a hard time. Like Nicole, who works an insurance office and at a local restaurant:
“Honestly at first I was embarrassed to have to reach out for help. I was angry that I was even in a position where I stood to lose my housing, even though I work hard at my two jobs. Things happen that are out of your control. And even when you are doing all the right things, life can still knock you down.”
The fortunate thing is together we can be a light of hope for people like Nicole. You can support your community and your neighbors by donating to the Blaine County Charitable Fund.
In the nearly four years since we were established, BCCF has been able to place more than $1,000,000 directly in the hands of 1,400 individuals. That’s one out of every 20 residents of Blaine County. These individuals and families have often needed temporary support to bridge the gap. Whether that was an unexpected car repair or downturn in work, people often simply needed a little help paying rent, covering a utility bill, or helping cover move-in costs for new housing. And the need continues.
We have seen extraordinary generosity from this community and proven ourselves to be an essential partner in the fight against the lack of affordable housing and financial inequality. We must continue to be there for the ongoing season of need in Blaine County.
As we near the end of 2023 will you consider being a partner with us in supporting our community by giving a gift of $100, $250, $500 or another amount of your choosing?
Honestly, it won’t take much to help people like Nicole and hundreds of others get back on their feet and continue to be part of the rich fabric of the Wood River Valley. Consider what your gift can do.
$100 Powers a home for a month
$250 Provides a temporary stay at a hotel
$500 Warms a home for the winter
$1,200 Covers the average request during a time of crisis
$2,500 Secures a rental deposit and first month’s housing for a family
$5,000 Can prevent an eviction judgment during mediation
If we can raise $300,000 from partners like you, we can stabilize 250 households in 2024!
You can provide the resources to people who are in crisis. I hope you will partner with us in anchoring our neighbors, friends, and families in Blaine County.
With gratitude,
Mary Fauth
Co-Founder & Executive Director
mary@blainecf.org | 208-244-5205 ext. 700