FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Shaelina Holmes | Director of Development & Marketing, Harvest House
786-916-1735 | shaelina@harvesthousecenters.com
Public Support Helps Harvest House Stay Resilient During Wave of Need
Manatee/Sarasota, FL. (June 2020) – Even in the best of times, Harvest House’s service-enriched housing model for those who find themselves without a roof over their head has a waiting list. But the organization hasn’t missed a beat in addressing the escalating needs of the community throughout the pandemic and economic fallout.
Since statewide stay-at-home orders, Harvest House clients are experiencing record-high unemployment and underemployment. Families are finding it especially difficult to return to work without viable childcare options, especially when most households are headed by single parents. To relieve dozens of families of the burden of rent and program fees, the organization has waived costs to its clients and provided additional support like food supplies, technical assistance, and mental health counseling. The organization is also serving more than 1,500 people through its drive-through food pantry each week.
“From the onset, we never wanted clients to have to choose between rent and their next meal,” says Erin Minor, Executive Director of Harvest House. “We expect more waves of families to come looking for help in the next few months, and we’ve readied our infrastructure to be as prepared as we can be.”
More than 33% of the organization’s funds come from program fees and rent, but a $200,000 grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has allowed Harvest House to allow the waived costs to stay sustainable in the coming months.
“Harvest House is a longtime partner doing impactful work in our community,” says Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of Barancik Foundation. “Our Board recognized an opportunity to keep a critical part of our social safety net for families strong and resilient. We hope others will make similar investments.”
About Harvest House
Harvest House, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the premise that all people deserve safe, stable housing and the opportunity to renew their hope and dream again. As a pioneer in the transitional and permanent housing movement, they are the only organization in Sarasota to participate in the development, preservation, and management of affordable, service-enriched housing. This model is becoming the standard for serving families and individuals who are working to rebuild their lives. They believe that affordable housing and supportive programs improve the economic status of residents, revitalize neighborhoods, and stabilize lives.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation – a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. Visit BarancikFoundation.org to learn more.
