Safety Net
UWSC supports and funds safety net services defined as emergency aid provided to individuals and families who face an immediate threat to their well-being as a result of a crisis. Examples include childhood hunger and food insecurity, emergency utility and fuel assistance, disaster and emergency response.
FUNDED PROGRAMS
American Red Cross– Disaster Services
Description: Through domestic disaster relief in Susquehanna County, Red Cross provides emergency food,
clothing, shelter and other basic needs to people experiencing natural and man-made disasters and emergencies in
Susquehanna County, PA.
B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging, Inc.- Emergency Stable Shelf Meals, Emergency Heating Assistance, and Emergency Shut Off Assistance
Description:Â Area Agency on Aging is an organization designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide social services to senior citizens in the counties of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Tioga. The Area Agency on Aging attempts to enhance independence and self-sufficiency to allow older individuals to remain in their own home for as long as possible. They provide care management, service coordination, and access to a variety of in-home services.
Emergency Stable Shelf Meals are provided to individuals who patriciate in the Meals on Wheels program. These meals ensure that older adults at risk of malnutrition will receive a meal on a day of emergency senior center closing or days that volunteer drivers are unable to deliver a meal due to inclement weather.
Emergency Heating Assistance is provided to low income older adults who have exhausted their LIHEAP and are at risk of hypothermia.
Emergency Shut Off Assistance is provided for older individuals who have no other resources available to alleviate health and safety risk and potential relocation.
Commission on Economic Opportunity– Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Banks
Childhood hunger and household food insecurity are the specific problems addressed by this program.
Hunger is a threat to the immediate and long-term well-being of the people it affects. Food insecurity among
children and families with children is a critical concern, as childhood hunger and food insecurity has documented
and researched impact on child health, academic performance, household/family stability, and long-term impacts on
job readiness in the workforce. Through the Food Bank’s network of members and partners, families are able to
receive help in the form of groceries to take home each week.
Family Service Association– Children’s Center of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties
The Children’s Center of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties is a Child Advocacy Center that provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to childhood trauma. A Child Advocacy Center provides
a safe, comfortable environment for children and their families as they go through the interviewing and examination processes after disclosing some type of traumatic experience.
Interfaith– Fuel and Emergency Assistance
Susquehanna County Interfaith is a non-profit outreach to low income families of Susquehanna
County. The programs provided are clothing emergency assistance, fuel assistance, Christmas Bureau, Back to School Shoe, Bountiful Blessings and Beautiful Opportunities. The goal of the Emergency assistance program is to supply practical assistance to qualifying clients facing difficult circumstances. Interfaith assists with eviction notices, utility shut-offs, gas vouchers, homeless emergency
assistance, clothing assistance, and first month’s rent.
Salvation Army– Forest City Service Center
Summer Lunch Box program, Service Center, Emergency Services
Description: The Salvation Army Forest City Service Center provides emergency assistance, such as rental assistance, utility assistance, heating assistance, and clothing assistance; a food pantry (Serving over 150 families); a back to school program which provides $80.00 to $100.00 per child to shop for new school clothing, a Christmas
program providing toys, clothing, and Christmas dinners; a League of Mercy Program provides gifts and visitation time to local nursing home residents; and summer camp program for children between the ages of 7 -12 from low income/at risk homes who are provided a week-long stay at The Salvation Army’s Camp Ladore in Waymart. The
camp program is provided at no cost to the families. The Salvation Army is currently working with our local volunteers to implement a “summer Lunch Box Program which will provide lunch to low-income children
throughout June, July, and August. The Summer Lunch Box Program will target children from the Forest City Regional Elementary School who have an income level that qualifies them for the school’s reduced lunch program.
Women’s Resource Center- Crisis and Advocacy Services
Women’s Resource Center (WRC) provides immediate responses to adult and child survivors of domestic and sexual violence. WRC provides crisis support, information, referral and crisis counseling by trained
advocates via their crisis response hotline.