Introduction Have you been wondering “What are volunteer opportunities near me?” or “How can I get involved in my community?” Look no further! Bucks County Housing Group (BCHG) is working steadfastly to close the door on hunger and homelessness. Our mission depends on the invaluable contributions and support from individuals like you, who want to make a difference in their community. In this blog, we will shed light on how you can get involved with BCHG and play a pivotal role in turning our shared vision into reality. Understanding BCHG Before embarking on your journey of involvement, we encourage you to delve into the heart of Bucks County Housing Group. Explore our website, familiarize yourself with the needs in our area, peruse our social media, and acquaint yourself with our diverse range of services. This foundational knowledge will empower you to engage effectively and align with our vision. Volunteer Opportunities BCHG operates on the dedication and passion of volunteers who are the backbone of our organization. Volunteering offers an opportunity to directly contribute to our mission. Here are some of the volunteer opportunities you can explore: a. Food Pantries: Lend your time and compassion to our food pantries, where you can provide crucial support to individuals and families facing food insecurity. b. Community Gardens: Make a tangible impact by volunteering at one of our community garden locations, helping individuals access and grow fresh produce. c. Administrative Assistance: Offer your skills in areas like data entry or office management to help facilitate the smooth operation of BCHG. d. Other Opportunities: We are always looking for ways that community members can contribute their skillsets to our mission. If you have an idea for a volunteer partnership, let us know! Financial Contributions If your schedule doesn’t permit regular volunteering, we invite you to consider making a financial contribution. Your donation significantly supports BCHG’s programs and services. We offer various giving options, including one-time donations, monthly contributions, and support for specific fundraising campaigns. Advocacy Amplify your voice in support of food security and housing issues in Bucks County. Advocate for initiatives that address the root causes of homelessness and endorse affordable housing solutions. Attend community meetings and become a voice for change in Bucks County. Organize a Fundraiser or Drive Harness your community spirit by organizing a fundraiser or donation drive within your network. Events like food drives, cleaning supply drives, and group fundraising can raise both awareness and resources for BCHG, making a considerable difference. Questions about holding a drive? Email amcgill@bchg.org. Spread the Word Help BCHG’s mission reach new heights by promoting it on social media, within your local community, and among friends and family. Sharing our success stories, events, and volunteer opportunities can draw more support and volunteers to our cause. Conclusion Bucks County Housing Group stands as a beacon of hope in addressing hunger and homelessness in Bucks County. Your involvement through volunteering, donations, advocacy, or event organization is invaluable to our mission. Every action, no matter how small, creates a ripple effect of positive change in the lives of those in need. Join us today and be a part of the solution with BCHG, for together, we create a stronger and more compassionate community. Written by: Amanda McGill
How You Can Help Fight Hunger in Bucks County Summer is here, and while it brings excitement for many, it also poses challenges for our food pantries. This season can be particularly tough as our stock levels tend to run low due to difficulties in securing food donations. While the demand for food assistance intensifies during these months, the support typically garnered during holidays and through school-drive initiatives diminishes. Compounded by the increasing costs of food and reductions in emergency SNAP benefits, the rising client need for food pantry services presents a challenge. We have observed a steady and significant increase in the number of clients seeking assistance at our food pantries. In the month of May alone, over 550 unique households were served, providing vital support to 1,469 individuals a staggering 4,199 times. This figure has only grown in the month of June and is expected to rise as we enter July. SNAP benefits, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal assistance program in the United States. It provides eligible individuals and families with funds to purchase nutritious food. The program aims to alleviate food insecurity and improve access to healthy meals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania provided temporary additional SNAP payments to recipients. These additional funds, typically averaging $95 or more, were crucial in supporting households facing food insecurity and mitigating the pandemic’s impact on vulnerable populations. However, in February, these extra benefits ended, resulting in decreased food assistance for many. Furthering the struggle, food prices continue to rise due to factors including international inflation, labor costs, supply chain issues, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts a projected increase of 4.1% in food production costs for the year 2023. These food prices not only impact consumers, but also our food program’s ability to purchase food. Bucks County Housing Group has witnessed a rise in clients struggling with homelessness or housing insecurity. The issue of homelessness almost always intersects with food insecurity, amplifying the urgency to provide consistent and reliable access to nourishing food. The combination of these factors has created a significant gap that BCHG strives to bridge. We work hard to ensure that vulnerable individuals and families have access to essential sustenance. Our comprehensive approach to food security services ensures the issue of food access is addressed at every stage. These challenges may seem overwhelming, but this is where your support really makes a difference! By increasing awareness of the ongoing need for food donations during the summer months, individuals, local businesses, and community organizations play a crucial role in ensuring that no one goes hungry. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant impact in the lives of those struggling with food insecurity and homelessness. There are many ways to help: Food Donations: Please consider donating either perishable or non-perishable food items. These contributions directly support our clients. Donations can be dropped off at our Penndel Pantry Tuesdays 10:00am – 12:00pm and our Doylestown Pantry Wednesday 1:30 – 3:30pm. To coordinate other donation times or food drives, please email amcgill@bchg.org. Financial Contributions: The best way to support our pantries currently is with monetary donations or gift cards to local grocery stores. These donations allow BCHG to purchase fresh produce, dairy products, and other perishable items, ensuring a balanced and nutritious food supply for our food pantries. Even a small contribution can go a long way in making a positive impact. Volunteer Support: Make a difference in your community by volunteering at BCHG’s food pantries or organizing food drives. Your time and skills can have a significant impact, helping to collect and distribute food to those in need. Spread the Word: Share the mission of BCHG through social media, community newsletters, local events, or just tell a friend about us! Raising awareness is key to expanding our impact and reaching more individuals and families in need. We are facing a decline in food donations and an increase in demand at our food pantries. This presents a pressing challenge, but one we are ready to face. We are dedicated to providing food assistance to all community members who turn to our pantries. To reach that goal, we need your help. Please consider supporting us and our mission to close the door on hunger in Bucks County! Share our mission by following along! Instagram: @buckscountyhousinggroup Facebook: Bucks County Housing Group Twitter: @housing4all LinkedIn: Bucks County Housing Group Written By: Dominic DiFrancesco
The Disproportionate Impact of Food and Housing Insecurity on the LGBTQIA+ Community June is National Pride Month, a time to celebrate all colors of love and reflect on the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in our country. While Pride Month is mainly honored through bright and fun events like parades and parties, it is also a bleak reminder of the hatred, hardships, and disproportionate challenges that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have faced throughout history and still face today. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), these challenges are often caused by different social, economic, and systemic factors, such as discrimination, family rejection, and being at a higher risk for mental challenges. Unfortunately, members of the LGBTQIA+ community face discrimination in many areas of life, and housing/food security is no exception. In general, LGBTQIA+ adults report significantly higher rates of hunger and homelessness than the general population. Housing Insecurity The Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law published a study in 2020 that found that, compared to cisgender heterosexual individuals, members of the LGBTQIA+ community have higher rates of poverty, lower rates of homeownership, and higher rates of homelessness. The report found that 17% of sexual minority adults reported experiencing lifetime homelessness; this number is almost three times higher than the percentage of the general population who reported experiencing lifetime homelessness (6%). The study also found that more than 70% of heterosexual, cisgender adults own their own homes, while less than half of LGBTQIA+ adults own their own homes. Other Williams Institute studies have found that homeownership is even lower among LGBTQIA+ racial minorities and transgender people. In the housing market, LGBTQIA+ individuals are often mistreated by online renters, mortgage lenders, and homeless shelters and services. “Stigma and discrimination create or exacerbate housing instability for LGBT people across their lives, from family rejection of LGBT youth to discrimination in the rental market and mortgage industry to harassment at senior living facilities,” (Williams Institute). Real-life examples of this discrimination include housing providers not renting or selling to same-sex couples, realtors refusing to show houses to a transgender individual, and a leasing manager at a 55+ community rejecting a tenant’s request to add his same-sex partner to his lease, stating, in writing, that “the community only accepts married couples in unions between one man and one woman,” (HUD). Food Insecurity The same discrimination and disproportionate numbers can be found when looking at food security among the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the Household Pulse Survey conducted between July and August of 2021, more than 13% of LGBTQIA+ adults reported living in a home where there was often not enough to eat, almost double that of non-LGBTQIA+ adults (7%). Furthermore, a Williams Institute report published in 2020 revealed that the number of LGBTQIA+ individuals who reported not having enough food to eat that year was more than double that of the general population. Not only do members of the queer community face hunger more often than heterosexual, cisgender adults, but they also reported often feeling unwelcome at food pantries and places that were supposed to help them. How to Help So, what can we do to help? At Bucks County Housing Group, our mission is to make food and permanent housing more accessible to everyone, regardless of who they love or how they identify. We work toward this goal through various housing programs like supportive housing, rapid rehousing, housing counseling, and food programs like our pantries, mobile markets, and community gardens. None of this work would be possible without the support of community members like you. If you’re able, please help us on our mission to end hunger and homelessness in Bucks County through any or all of the methods below: Volunteer Donate Hold A Drive Share our mission by following along!Instagram: @buckscountyhousinggroupFacebook: Bucks County Housing GroupTwitter: @housing4all Lastly, be sure to stay up to date on local news and updates impacting the LGBTQIA+ community. Written By: Hannah Borish