Blue Valley Community Action continues to offer hand-up, not hand-out

YORK – This week, Blue Valley Community Action CEO Shari Weber and Jennifer Harre, who oversees the BVCA operations in York and Polk Counties, met with the York County Commissioners to make their year-end report and budget request.

​Weber and Harre both explained how the goal of the agency is to provide “a hand-up, not a hand-out.”
They recognized how the agency provides emergency assistance – especially through food pantry items – while also developing a system of training with clients to help them meet financial goals until they no longer need BVCA services.
Weber said BVCA serves nine counties – including York County – and also provides limited services in nine other counties.
“Poverty looks different for everyone,” Weber said. “To help individuals and families, will help meet their basic, immediate needs and then we work to help stabilize their situation. We are seeing an increase in the number of people needing services. But we are a hand-up, not just a hand-out. We check on clients regularly to help them make progress, guide them, to help them become successful.”
Weber said the poverty rate was 9.04% in the last year – compared to 8.6% the prior year. She said about 1,200 people in York County are living in poverty.
“We have families who are working full-time and still having problems making ends meet,” Weber said. To be considered as being at 100% poverty level, a family of four’s annual income is $31,200 gross. To be at 200% of poverty is $62,400 gross. “The current Nebraska minimum wage is $13.50 an hour or $28,080 full-time gross, significantly below the poverty rate for a family of four.”
In the last year, BVCA assisted 1,526 individuals in 692 households in York County, Weber said, which included 702 children, 746 adults and 78 elderly individuals.
When it came to emergency services, she said 988 individuals were assisted, 99 received utility assistance, 94 received rental assistance and 56 were provided with rapid re-housing for homelessness.
When it came to food security issues, in York County last year, 578 people in 244 households received 2,227 food boxes; 44 elderly individuals received nutritious food via CSFP; and 76,825 pounds of Walmart Feeding America food was distributed.
She said, in York County, safe and affordable housing was provided by 58 individuals. And 601 individuals residing in 156 households received WIC services.
Weber said 28 individuals were employed by BVCA in York County last year.
Harre noted that in the months of March, April and May, “five families were given emergency rent and 160 families received food pantries.”
“Food security is a big issue we continue to see,” Weber added.
“Yes, food insecurity is a big issue here in York County,” Harre said.
For funding in the next fiscal year, BVCA is asking for $11,500, which is an increase of $112 received from the county the year before.
“We have very little state support, we greatly appreciate the support of the counties we serve,” Weber said. “Private donations are a big percentage of our funding. Right now, the proposed federal budget eliminates a portion of our funding and if those funds are cut, we are looking at contingency plans.”
“We know people need help and we are glad there are organizations to help them, but the loss of federal funds will make a difference,” said Commissioner Randy Obermier.
The commissioners will take the request under consideration during the ongoing budget process.