Published: June 18, 2009 09:01 am      

Corbin’s United Effort helps 243 families in May

Special to The Times-Tribune

Corbin’s United Effort, Corbin’s low-income family support agency, has released its monthly report for May 2009. The report indicates that C.U.E. provided services to 243 families (or approximately 650 individuals) last month. C.U.E. provides a safety net to help low-income families improve their lives and secure or maintain safe, affordable housing. Even a minor emergency can throw a low-income family into desperate circumstances, such as losing a place to live or being forced to live without heat, electricity or water. The agency provides families in need with financial assistance, referrals and advice as well as education on topics such as budgeting, banking and preparing nutritious meals at low cost.

C.U.E. provided direct financial assistance on behalf of 48 families in March, including 58 children. The agency paid $10,532 to local landlords and utility companies to secure or maintain housing and services for low-income households. C.U.E. intervened in eleven cases to prevent a family’s eviction and helped twelve families move into safe, affordable housing. C.U.E. also helped 25 families to maintain heat or water service, by helping to pay utility bills. Financial assistance is limited to low-income families in the Corbin area who have suffered an uncontrollable loss of income or increase in expenses.

Thirteen low-income families in May were helped by the Home Skills Learning Project, which teaches families how to better manage their money. Participants in the project attend five one-hour classes to improve their money management and home economics skills and receive a $300 credit to be used for rent, utilities or deposits to improve their lives. The Home Skills Learning Project is sponsored in part by the Ossoli Club of Corbin and RUDD Equipment.

Corbin’s United Effort is also a proud member of the Tri-County Assistance Network and forms the administrative core of this network in Corbin and Whitley County, screening clients, maintaining the database and linking various groups together for administrative support. 

Corbin’s United Effort receives 98% of its funding from local contributors and is always in need of donations and the services of volunteers.

If you would like more information, or would like to make a donation to Corbin’s United Effort, please call (606) 528-7523 or visit us on our website at www.corbinsunitedeffort.org. Donations can be mailed to Corbin’s United Effort, PO Box 1789, Corbin, KY 40701.