Grantee submission by: Krista Murray, Executive Director
How did the funding or non-monetary support you received from the Foundation impact your organization and/or the community?
The Moses Taylor Foundation provided a grant of $250,000 for a Collaborative Assistance Program operated by the Catherine McAuley Center, United Neighborhood Centers, Catholic Social Services, and Valley Youth House. This program provided emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions and entry to homelessness for families in Lackawanna County during the winter months of 2022-2023. 84 households and 226 individuals were able to avoid homelessness thanks to this funding. A collaborative approach enabled our agencies to serve those in need by reducing administrative burden and offering those in need multiple entrances to help.
Share a quote or anecdotal story from a client or employee of your organization that illustrates the impact of your work.
Joe (name changed for privacy) worked in a local factory for several years before his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Unable to work, Joe applied for disability benefits and while waiting for approval he fell behind two months of rent. Joe applied for the Collaborative Rental Assistance program and was able to receive assistance paying his rent, preventing him from homelessness during the cold of January. Right after preventing his eviction, Joe met with a physician to evaluate him for disability benefits and was approved, allowing him to prevent homelessness all together with a new income stream. “You don’t know how much this means to me,” Joe shared when he dropped off his application for this program.
What do you most want the community to know about your work and/or what excites you most about the future of your organization?
In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, the Catherine McAuley Center seeks to respond to the needs of the poor and is open and eager to work with community partners in serving our community and strengthening homes.