Seton Center Inc

A gentleman in his eighties worked a part-time job to try and make ends meet. His rent is only $300 a month, but his home was so poorly insulated that his heating bills snowballed into a balance of $3,000 each mid-winter.

With the help of our Case Managers, he applied for and received help from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program to pay his fuel bill. After these funds ran out, a huge outstanding balance accumulated again and the fuel company wouldn’t deliver additional fuel to heat his drafty home until the bill was paid. It was an endless cycle.

More cold weather was coming and with no living relatives to turn to for support he came back to Seton Center. We were able to provide financial emergency assistance to help reduce the fuel bill and collaborated with other agencies to assist him further in paying down this mountain of debt.

After plugging holes in the flood of these expenses, Case Managers then set to the work of helping this vulnerable neighbor identify some long-term housing goals, resolve his financial issues and improve his quality of life - for good. This gentleman is now living in a cozy apartment with a compatible roommate, without worry about his health or loss of his home or utilities.

This is how our emergency services and long-term case management work in tandem to conquer poverty!