October 2006 Redmond Business

Our Clients May Be Your Employees, Your Family, And You
by Pam Mauk

Because our campus serves a great number of low-income people there is often an assumption about who is tapping the programs on our one-stop human services campus.

I’ve heard the presumption that it’s “welfare people,” although there is no longer “welfare” in the sense of years past. While the great majority is financially very vulnerable, in fact, those served look very much like your employees, your family, and you.

People visit with everyday, but often traumatic, dilemmas.
“Since my husband’s injury, we’ve been struggling. Now we can’t pay our rent.”
“Our daughter is simply out of control. We don’t know what to do.”
“I need surgery, but I’m not sure I have the coverage I need.”
“My mother has dementia and needs a host of services.”
“My tooth broke, and I don’t have dental insurance.”
“We’re in transition,” one couple said last week “Actually, we don’t have a home,” they finished.  About 5% of our customers are in similar straits.

Over 60% of those served at Family Resource Center are of low or very low income (and half, we should note, are children). Yet, financially comfortable families (the 30% with moderate incomes or incomes unrecorded) tap a multitude of programs on campus: counseling services, disability supports, child care and much more.  Human services are a part of all families.

As you think of our Eastside community supports, by all means be thankful that those who’ve lost their financial footing have a multitude of services to help right here in Redmond. But recall too, that this same campus of programs serves people like your employees, your children and you!

Pam Mauk is executive director of Family Resource Center. For information on the Center, call 869-6699 or visit www.familyresourcecenter.org (For information and referral to community services, call 211.)

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