Family Service Association of Bucks County announced the kickoff of its 9th annual benefit for its Emergency Homeless Shelter is Thursday, April 8, at 6 p.m. Due to social distancing concerns, this event will be held virtually this year as it was in 2020.
Last year, the shelter provided a temporary home to 352 Bucks County residents who were struggling with homelessness, with 111 of these shelter residents children under the age of 18. During this time, Family Service saw a 30 percent increase to its shelter waitlist and a 35 percent increase in costs due to necessary COVID-19 precautions.
Family Service’s shelter differs from many others in the area because of the breadth of programs it offers residents. Staff works with each resident to address issues that may have contributed to their current situation or may be barriers to their finding stable housing. Shelter residents are connected with health evaluations and referrals, counseling, case management, job search resources, transportation to appointments and interviews and more.
The goal for each person entering the shelter is for them to leave with the keys to their own home at the end of their stay.
To support these efforts, Family Service is inviting the community to join the virtual benefit kickoff, which will be simultaneously streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live on April 8, at 6 p.m. The event will showcase the work done at the shelter and stories of recent challenges and successes. Following the kickoff, the benefit will continue for the next two weeks with local individuals, businesses and organizations coming together to fundraise for this important cause.
To RSVP and for more information, visit fsabc.org/benefit
