Security Deposits Keep Two Families Off the Streets

Simple Security Deposits Keep Two Families Off The Streets

Off the Streets Bridgeport, Fairfield, & Trumbull helps — one person at a time!

Trumbull, CT – July 14, 2014 – It did not take long before  Off the Streets, Inc.’s (OTS) new chapter, Off the Streets of Bridgeport, Fairfield and Trumbull (OTSBFT), was called into action.  In fact, in a very short span of time, OTSBFT has helped two separate families with their housing needs.  OTS chapters, including OTSBFT, bridge the gap between local social service agencies and their homeless or at-risk-of-homelessness clients’ ability to pay security deposits for housing.  OTS also fills the need for basic furnishings and household goods because oftentimes clients have little more in possessions than the clothes on their backs .

In these two instances OTSBFT’s clients came with a need for security deposits.  One client was a mother with a young child and the other client was a family (already housed) but in need of a larger apartment in order to take in their homeless grandmother.  The clients had the ability to pay their rent in both cases, but simply could not afford the required security deposit that would keep them off the streets.  OTSBFT was able to quickly help the two families secure housing.

But that’s not the whole story!  OTS’s ability to act swiftly cuts through the proverbial red-tape that binds many social service agencies’ hands and has enabled the OTSBFT to expedite the placement of two clients into new homes simply by providing the much needed security deposits landlords require.

“Now $300 to $900 may not sound like a lot of money to many Fairfield County families who easily spend that much on new gadgets — iPads, smart phones, apps,” explains Deacon Kevin Moore, administrator of Off the Streets Bridgeport, Fairfield, & Trumbull, “but to the homeless and at-risk-of-homelessness, it’s the difference between trying to survive under an overpass or living in a small apartment and being able to sleep in a bed.”

If you wish to help:

1. Financial Contributions:  Off the Streets does not rely on national, state, or local government money and has been blessed by the generosity of donors who believe in OTS’s mission.  In the greater Bridgeport area, it takes (on average) $900 for a security deposit to get one person or family off the streets and into housing.  Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to:  Off the Streets — P.O. Box 110612 — Trumbull, CT 06611
2. Household Items:  Off the Streets is in need of a variety of compact, clean, and in-good-condition furniture and basic daily household items (linens, tableware, etc.) to give clients a fresh start in their new lives off the streets.  Please visit http://offthestreetsnow.com/bft/home-bft/ for a detailed listing of needed items and for drop-off dates and times.
3. Volunteer:  OTS volunteers are its lifeblood!  If  you wish to donate your time and talents to OTS, please visit http://offthestreetsnow.com/bft/home-bft/ to see how you may help.

Off the Streets, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation and contributions are fully tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes.  Donation checks can be sent to: Off the Streets, P.O. Box 110612, Trumbull, CT 06611.  In addition to financial donations, OTSBFT is happy to take small furnishings and housewares.  Please consult their website (www.offthestreetsnow.com/bft/home-bft) for a detailed listing of items needed and scheduled drop off dates or email OTSBFT@gmail.com or call 203-590-1501.

Since its founding in 2009, OTS has assisted over 300 people.  Because OTS is a 100 percent volunteer based charitable organization without a physical office, there is virtually no overhead — approximately $20 per month per chapter covers insurance, P.O. Box, and the OTS website.  All other funds directly support OTS’s mission.  Additionally, due to their relationships with landlords, property managers, and social services OTS can act very quickly — often transitioning a homeless client into a furnished room or apartment in as little as two to fourteen days.  OTS operates in Danbury, CT; Lancaster, PA; and in Bridgeport, Fairfield, and Trumbull, CT.  Additional locations are under development in California.  For more information about OTS, please visit www.offthestreetsnow.com.

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