SVDP is receiving more calls from families who have never applied for assistance before. BR is a single mom in her 50’s who moved to Columbia in 2019 from another state to assist her adult son and his 2-year-old son. BR got sick in March with the flu and lost 2 weeks of work. She resorted to getting a title loan to pay the bills. When COVID-19 hit, both mother and son’s work hours were reduced, and they were unfamiliar with available resources in Columbia. In October, the title company took BR’s entire check from her bank account and there was no way to pay bills. SVDP recommended the adult son apply for Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), Childcare Subsidy and Food Stamps online with the MO Department of Social Services (mydss.com). Voluntary Action Center (VAC) 573-874-2273 might cover past-due rent if COVID-related and Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) 573-443-1100 has funds for all utilities and Internet. SVDP assisted with food cards and kept utilities on.
St. Vincent de Paul
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