In these tough economic times, many folks can use a helping hand once in a while.
For residents of Addison Township who need help getting back on their feet, the Rochester Area Neighborhood House, located on 1234 Inglewood, is here to help.
According to Neighborhood House Executive Director Linda Riggs, the group’s mission is to ‘help families in our service area who are struggling financially.?
‘We have a food pantry, clothes closet, a van that provides transportation for people to get to the doctor or social services appointment of some kind,? Riggs said. ‘We also have some direct financial assistance that we can help folks with who are behind on rent, have an eviction or foreclosure or need help with a utility bill.?
Riggs added the goal is to get their customers they serve on the road back to self-sustainability.
‘Our goal is to really not just help somebody if they need food or clothing or some immediate need for their family, but to say long-term what can we do to help you get back on your feet for your whole family,? she said.
‘Our goal is to focus in on these specific needs and help them move forward so we can help with job coaching (and) budget counseling,? she continued.
Founded by communities of faith in 1968, Rochester Area Neighborhood House began as an intake center for people in the Rochester area. Over the next forty years, the organization grew to encompass areas of Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township and Addison Township.
The total service area for Neighborhood House is around 100 square miles, according to Riggs.
‘We have been servicing Addison Township for quite a while and we are just starting to try and get the word out,? Riggs said. ‘Last month I did go to meet some folks on the township board and reminded them we were here.?
In 2010, Neighborhood House served over 2,000 people according to Riggs. She added the biggest areas of need she sees in is food and shelter.
‘We’ve had a lot of people come in for housing assistance,? she said. ‘We’ve seen a lot of foreclosures and a lot of evictions this year.?
If assistance is needed with food or clothing, Riggs said an individual can show up during normal hours, Monday through Thursday between noon and 2:30 p.m., apply for assistance and then proceed to the food and clothing pantry upon qualification.
According to Riggs, in order to qualify for assistance, an individual must bring identification showing they live in one of the service areas, information on how many family members are within the household and proof of income.
If seeking financial assistance, an appointment needs to be scheduled with one of the group’s caseworkers.
Riggs said there are multiple ways to donate to Neighborhood house.
‘You can go right to our website, www.ranh.org, and people can donate right online if they want to donate cash,? she said. ‘But if they would like to donate nonperishable food items or clothes for our clothes closet, they can bring them in directly.?
For more information about Rochester Area Neighborhood House, call (248) 651-5836.