As the cost of living in the Greater Pittsburgh area continues to rise, those who are marginalized and face tough financial situations are most at-risk. Life events, such as injury, abuse and job loss, can impact people seeking help. When people are facing these challenges, they often won’t ask for assistance until they are already late on rent or housing payments or facing eviction.
Fortunately for those in need, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh (SVdP) is able to step in to help their clients facing housing insecurity – services include support for rent, utilities, transportation, food and other necessities.
To expand their reach and impact, SVdP received a $75,000 Home4Good award, which is jointly offered by FHLBank Pittsburgh (FHLBank) and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. This work includes partnerships with local continuums of care and service organizations serving housing insecure populations.
“Home4Good allowed us to sustain the Direct Assistance Fund and capacity building training resources for our Conferences,” said Ricardo Luckow, Executive Director of SVdP. “Our goal for this fund is to address emergency needs, like housing and food insecurity, and to provide a path to sustainable solutions for our neighbors in need.”
This program, supported by Home4Good, channels dollars to local service organizations that know how to help. The grant funds supported training for Conferences to identify poverty and create a resource directory to connect individuals in need of services. Conferences are organized groups of individuals who provide direct assistance, as well as social and emotional support, to their neighbors in need.
SVdP supports a consortium of more than 60 Conferences in the Greater Pittsburgh region and 31 in Allegheny County. Typically, Conferences are organized through Catholic parishes, but can be formed around any group.
When a client contacts SVdP, they are connected with their local Conference who then assesses their situation through an initial conversation, followed by a home visit. Home visits are a uniquely volunteer-based element of SVdP, which often uncovers additional unmet needs that clients didn’t know could be addressed. Volunteers go into the homes of those requesting help and spend time to learn about their needs to find long-term solutions. SVdP not only provides financial means, but also community connections to help these individuals. The relationships built through the person-to-person service serve as natural mechanisms for follow-up as clients move along their path to achieving self-sufficiency, dignity and hope.
Multiple, current FHLBank members were involved with the SVdP project including Atlantic Community Bankers Bank; First National Bank of Pennsylvania; Mars Bank; NY Life Ins & Annuity Co.; Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company; QBE Insurance Corporation; S&T Bank; SSB Bank; Washington Financial Bank; and West View Savings Bank.
“Navigating the needs of those who are housing insecure in our region requires business and community partners,” said Alexa Mascara, FHLBank’s Home4Good product manager. “We are thankful that so many organizations stepped forward to support SVdP’s Direct Assistance Fund, which will help hundreds of people on the road to economic recovery.”
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About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh
Founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a French college student, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves local individuals in need on a person-to-person level. The Society is operated primarily by volunteers, organized in regional Councils around the world. The Council of Pittsburgh was formed in 1852 and covers six counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania – Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington.
About FHLBank Pittsburgh
FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions, which include commercial and savings banks, community development financial institutions, credit unions and insurance companies in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. FHLBank products and resources help support community lending, housing and economic development. As one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks established by Congress, FHLBank has been an integral and reliable part of the financial system since 1932. Learn more by visiting www.fhlb-pgh.com.
