Information about
Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park
MISSION STATEMENT:
Crossroads Ministry exhibits Christian love by providing basic human services to needy residents in the Estes Valley.
Brief history of organization:
Crossroads Ministry's roots began in 1982, in the Food Pantry established by St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, in the wake of the Lawn Lake flood. By 1985,
the needs in the community for emergency assistance surpassed the support a
single church could provide. Also in 1985, the Estes Valley Interfaith Council, recognizing the community's need for the services to continue, sponsored Crossroads Ministry's application for tax exempt status. Additionally, in 1985,
the agency was registered as a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation and received
its State of Colorado Tax Exempt status. In 1987, it received its 501(c)(3) federal
tax exempt status from the IRS. Over time, to serve the needs of low income
residents of the Estes Valley, to its food pantry services, it added emergency
voucher assistance for: rent, utilities, medical, dental, prescriptions, gasoline, laundry, clothing and showers. It also added a self-sufficiency program that
includes classes in money management and energy efficiency, and individual coaching in money management.
From 1985 through 1999, Crossroads moved its services several time to rental locations. In 2000, with assistance from public and private sources, Crossroads purchased, and continues to hold free and clear, land and a building to house
its services, that are well suited for long term occupation. Crossroads has
established collaborative partnerships with funders, food sources, public and
private service agencies, landlords, utility companies, medical providers, commercial establishments, etc. These long-standing relationships enable Crossroads Ministry to connect low income clients with sources and forms of assistance, to resolve many kinds of emergency situations. At present, Crossroads
is sponsored and supported by over a dozen Estes area churches, has broad public and private local community support, and is a member agency of United Way of Larimer County, Colorado.
How many total clients are served annually:
In an unduplicated count for year 2008, there were 322 family units, consisting
of 842 individuals, of whom 323 were children. Most clients received more than
one services and received individual services more than one time. The duplicated count of individuals served in year 2008 was: 5,479 individuals. Of these, 4,880 received food assistance; and 599 received voucher assistance for: rent, utilities, medical, transportation and other basic living expenses.
What are the demographics of the population
that is being served:
In year 2008, of the 842 individuals served, 75% were at or below 125% of federal poverty level and 25% were at or below 185% of federal poverty level. 38% were children, 6% were single parent households, 4% were disabled, and 4% were elderly. Of the 842 individuals, 53% were female, 47% were male; 49% were Caucasian, 48% were Hispanic, 1% was Native American, 1% was African American, and 1% was unknown. 96% resided in the Estes Park valley area, 2% in nearby mountainous areas of Larimer County, and 2% in nearby mountainous areas of Boulder County.
Current major initiatives:
Crossroads will receive federal stimulus funds, funneled through Larimer County Health & Human Services Department, for the first start-up year for a case manager position, for the period 8-01-2009 through 7-31-2010. Previously, Crossroads has not had a case manager position. Its purpose is to provide emergency assistance and case management to improve the self-sufficiency of newly unemployed and impoverished Estes Park residents. The addition of this new position was prompted by the greatly expanded numbers of people, unemployed and in poverty circumstances, coming to Crossroads seeking food pantry and emergency services to relieve their at-risk-for hunger and daily living crisis situations.
(i) On a half-time basis, the position will provide expanded casework intake capacity: conduct client interviews, make determination regarding assistance, and provide emergency services to resolve crisis needs and stabilize client living situations. (ii) On a half-time basis, the position will provide follow-along case services and support: refer clients to additional sources of assistance; provide support and guidance for client follow-through in job search activities, participation in money management and energy efficiency classes; and give follow-along support and assistance to clients in their efforts to resolve crises, regain employment, and return to self-sufficiency.
Crossroads Ministry is seeking funding support for continuation funding for this position, for when federal stimulus start-up funding ends. Specifically, we seek grant and other funds for the second, third and fourth years of operation of this position. We have some substantial local commitments and seek others for continuation funding for half of the costs of the position through local source funding in Estes Park. We are seeking foundation grant funding for continuation funding for one-half of the costs of the position for a three year period.
What is the greatest challenge you foresee for your organization in the next year:
Crossroads Ministry’s greatest challenge is in securing and maintaining the human and financial resources to staff services and pay for the costs of the services needed by our clients, at a time the demand for services has risen sharply, the costs for providing assistance to individual clients also have risen higher, and by every indication demand for services will continue at a high level into future periods. For the present, we have secured higher levels of food donations to meet the higher demand for food pantry services. For the present, we have secured additional grant funding for the higher requests and higher costs per individual for emergency assistance with rent, utilities, medical, transportation and other daily living expenses. Our existing staff positions are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people coming for assistance and our new clients need more intensive follow-along case management services than we can provide them with existing staff positions. We will receive federal stimulus funds for the costs of the first start-up year for a new case manager position. We are seeking continuation funding for the new case manager position that will assist with casework intake activities, and also with follow-along support case management activities, to assist and support the newly unemployed who are unaccustomed to poverty circumstances and struggling to learn how to cope, and to return to gainful employment and self-sufficiency.
How are Empty Stocking funds expended to
benefit your clients:
Award of $9,944.07 received 3/08/08 was expended entirely for direct
assistance services to clients.
Grant funds were used as follow:
$ 8,521.65 assistance to 29 client households rental assistance,
to prevent eviction & stabilize daily living situations.
$ 567.02 assistance to 25 client households gasoline assistance
(transportation) for critical needs travel
$ 465.16 assistance to 11 client households medical assistance,
prescription co-pays, other medical expenses
$ 390.24 assistance to 6 client households utilities assistance to
prevent or restore service disconnects
$ 9,944.07 total award 71 client households received direct assistance
for emergency needs
What is the true, lasting impact of the Empty
Stocking Fund on your organization/clients:
The most true lasting impact of the Empty Stocking Fund on Crossroads Ministry and its clients are that 71 client households that were in crisis need had their needs met and their emergency situations stabilized. Low income households at risk of eviction and losing their housing were able either to retain their existing housing or were assisted to move to housing affordable to them, where they could maintain the monthly rent payments. Households that could not afford the costs of gasoline to come to Crossroads for food, to drive to a critically needed medical appointment, to attend a job interview, to drive to work the first weeks of their new job until they received a paycheck, were enabled to make the drive for these very necessary needs. Individuals who could not pay the co-pays for prescription refills and medical appointments with physicians were able to get the medications and medical care they needed. Households whose lights and heat were shut off were able to have these services restored, others at risk for a disconnect were able to prevent loss of utilities services because Stocking Fund dollars were used to assist them. At Crossroads Ministry, the most lasting impacts of the Empty Stocking Fund are made with the giving of emergency help to people in crisis need, one family at a time.