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Social Services' mission is
to help the poorest of Anderson County with the most basic
of human needs: rent, utilities, mortgage payments,
emergency food, prescriptions, and gasoline to get back and
forth to job interviews and doctor appointments. ADFAC also
counsels clients to help them become more self-sufficient
and help them utilize all available resources in the
area.
CLEARINGHOUSE
ADFAC maintains a database
of over 6,000 families with a total of more than 22,000
entries and is used to determine eligibility when clients
request assistance. It is also used to coordinate assistance
by area churches and organization and to help eliminate
duplication of effort. Police reports pertaining to drug and
alcohol arrests are also recorded so that informed decision
can be made about assistance. Clients that have a history of
addiction are required to show that they are receiving
treatment and the database helps in making determinations in
that area.
RENT ASSISTANCE
To prevent eviction and
homelessness, rent assistance and mortgage assistance is
available. Additionally, security deposits to help a family
move into a residence may be provided as long as they
demonstrate the ability to maintain payments in the
future.
PROJECT SAFE
Paying for electricity,
natural gas, kerosene, wood and coal during the winter
months is the objective of this program. If the fuel is used
as the primary heating source for the family, the donated
funds from individuals maybe used. This is a dollar in,
dollar out project with no administrative overhead
charged.
PROJECT ASSIST
This project is similar to
Project SAFE above, except it is designed specifically to
help the residents of Anderson County which reside outside
the City of Oak Ridge.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Last year, 500 Anderson
County children were assisted with backpacks, paper,
notebooks, pencils, pens, glue and crayons under this
program. Backpacks were prepared with items that were
appropriate for the proper grade level for each student
recipient. Each child was also given a $15.00 voucher to
purchase a pair of shoes or new clothing for the beginning
of school.
PRESCRIPTIONS
If qualified clients are not
covered by medical insurance or cannot afford to purchase
necessary prescriptions, this program is available. This is
a special program that ADFAC administers for the City of Oak
Ridge. COR residents may be eligible for a prescription card
that entitles them to ongoing prescription assistance up to
$100 a month. Controlled substances are exempt from
assistance under this program.
TRANSPORTATION LOAN
Because our clients often
encounter transportation difficulties, this program make
available interest free loans up to $1,000 for the repair of
a vehicle or towards the purchase of a used car. The client
must demonstrate the ability to pay back this loan either by
having a job or a regular income such as a disability
payment. There is a one-time 3% administrative fee
associated with the loan and repayment can be made in 12 or
18 monthly installments so as not to create an undue
hardship for the recipient.
SPECIAL NEEDS
ADFAC has received donations
which have been designated for the purpose of meeting the
special needs of clients not covered by other programs. In
the past, these have covered many different items such as a
uniform, shoes, attire needed for a new job, a haircut for a
job interview, a special pad for a child with a bedwetting
problem, more comfortable clothes for a teenager following
surgery and the like.
EMERGENCY PANTRY
ADFAC has an emergency food
pantry that can give someone enough food to get them through
several days until the next food pantry is open.
Additionally, emergency food vouchers can be provided to
area supermarkets to purchase fresh produce, milk, bread and
other necessary items. A quantity of baby formula is also
distributed by us through Second Harvest. ADFAC also
distributes items which may not be purchased by food stamps
such as personal hygiene items, cleaning items, and diapers.
All of the items in our emergency pantry are donated by
individuals, churches, and other organizations.
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