Help for when life happens
MEND's financial assistance program helps people who live in Lake Wenatchee, Plain, Leavenworth, Peshastin, Dryden and Cashmere with rent, utility and transportation expenses. Most of the financial assistance budget comes from a grant provided by Chelan County.
Life happens.
Many people who come to Upper Valley MEND for financial assistance have something in common: an unexpected life event has happened to them, and they need help navigating it.
MEND is able to provide people who live in the Leavenworth and Cashmere areas—including Lake Wenatchee, Plain, Peshastin and Dryden—with rent, utility, and transportation assistance once every six months. Funding comes from Chelan County, and from donations from churches and individuals.
There are many reasons someone might come to MEND for financial help, says MEND’s social worker Liz Hurtado. A car accident; an illness. High health insurance copays. Dental pain. Someone’s child getting sick, so they’re unable to work.
“People assume it’s not going to happen to them, but you just never know,” says Liz.
Many people in Leavenworth and Cashmere work in the tourism industry. If it’s not tourist season, or tourism is down due to weather or smoke or any other number of factors, their hours may be reduced, or they’ll get less money in tips than they need to cover their expenses.
When all the factors aren’t in your control
Agricultural workers also have factors outside their control that lead to their need for financial assistance. If it’s a bad crop year, there could be less work in general. There may be an unexpected wait between when one crop is harvested and the next is ready. They may get sick from the long hours working in every type of weather, or from unhealthy air conditions.
The elderly on fixed incomes are another demographic that Liz sees. Due to the high price of rent in the area, many people living on their social security checks have very little money to pay for what they need.
“After they’re done paying their rent and car insurance, for example, they have $25-$50 a month left over,” Liz said. “They don’t have enough to save anything for emergencies. They’re always playing catch up.”
Single parents often also need help.
“They’re navigating life with a small child and the expenses related to that—including childcare—and figuring out how to parent alone,” Liz says.
Although many people who seek help fall into one of the categories above and need either rent, utility or transportation assistance, there are many that don’t. Liz also helps people fill out applications for subsidized housing and other services. She can help people find resources and navigate complicated aid systems. MEND also has some funding available for other assistance, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. For anyone who doesn’t know where to turn, MEND is a resource to help them determine the next step to take.
“Life happens,” Liz says. “We don’t know what life has in store for us. It’s important to MEND—and to me as a social worker—that people know there’s no need to feel bad because they’re asking for help. Providing help is what we’re here for.”