PLEASE HELP US FUND OPPORTUNITY PLACE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES
The Need
- Lack of affordable rental housing causes a higher cost of housing to an already stretched family budget
- The average rent for a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment in Calloway County is $808 per month
- There is a shortage of affordable housing in Calloway County: Section 8, income-based housing
- The need is serving the lower wage-earning families, “working poor”, they have lower paying jobs and may be a car repair, appliance repair, medical or a family emergency away from not paying rent or food
- There is no space available in Calloway County to house Calloway County families recently displaced from their home
- There is a 6 month wait for existing transitional housing units in the County
- A Calloway County family today would be referred to shelters in Paducah or Paris, TN
- Moving the family out of the area could cause a loss of income if there are jobs involved
- Moving children out of existing schools can have a negative impact on learning and psychological stability
The Solution
- The United Way brand (locally and United Way Kentucky) is taking the lead for a County-wide fundraising campaign. The campaign will kick off with the Weaver Challenge for Charities on September 1st, and ending November 30th .
- This will not be just a shelter, it will be value-added temporary/transitional housing where families can receive assessment, training for job skills, family budgeting, life skill, economic meal planning.
- 3 to 6 months stay, no cost, but the family would have to make monthly contributions to a “savings account” to help them transition to permanent housing
- The purpose is creating an environment to help break the cycle of dependence and return them to a home of their own
- The UWMCC will partner operationally with Hope Calloway, Calloway County Economic Development , KTAP, Housing Coalition of Kentucky, Calloway County 4-H.
- The UWMCC needs to partner with the State, City and County governments.
- The cost to build two quadplexes is $1 million plus and will be divided into two phases
- We can use existing structures but they will require upgrades, repairs and zoning waivers
Please donate to opportunity place. click the button below
All donations will be deposited in the United Way endowment at the Murray Calloway County Community Fund until our goal is reached. No donations will be used for any other expenses.
Proudly we have distributed close to $200,000 to families in need in Calloway County. The need is still here today. We receive applications and messages from families every single day; some are about to be homeless, some have utilities shut off, some are homeless. We need your help more than ever. Please donate by clicking the button below and select Community Fund in the dropdown menu. Your donations stay in Calloway County. Thank you in advance.
Paul McCreary, President, United Way of Murray Calloway County
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