The Gift of Hope
Posted by tblefko on April 9, 2009
Image courtesy of Flickr
I’m going to take a break from my normal routine of writing about real estate related ‘stuff’ and spend a moment telling you about an organization that dispenses hope in our community – the Transitional Living Center (TLC) in downtown Lancaster.
With the help of Doug Hopwood, the facilities and operations manager, TLC provides housing and support to those experiencing homelessness. The 51-room facility, located at 105 East King Street, is fully operational and staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The focus of the TLC program is to end the cycle of homelessness and each household must be committed to the goal of finding permanent housing upon enrollment into the TLC program.
Like most of you that are reading this blog, I sometimes take for granted that I will go home at the end of every day where I will find food in my cupboard, clothes in the closet and a roof over my head to keep me warm and dry. But there is a segment of our society where these basic staples are not a given. There’s the mother that is trying to escape a physically and mentally abusive relationship; there’s the veteran that is returning from war that is finding it difficult to assimilate back into the mainstream; there’s the man that just lost his job and is finding it hard to find a new one while keeping a roof over his family’s head. These folks don’t need a free handout – they need a temporary place to stay and some guidance.
Each household is assigned a caseworker that works one-on-one with the residents to develop a plan for permanent housing. Once a resident enters the program, budgeting and savings are immediate. Residents become informed on topics such as Landlord Rights and Responsibilities, Budgeting and other related items to become successful in their permanent housing through TLC’s Life Skills classes. Over 70% of their residents successfully relocate to permanent housing in less than 4 months with the qualities landlords desire most, paying their rent on time, keeping the property in good order and being a good neighbor.
The Lancaster County Association of REALTORS® (LCAR) has a long history of involvement with TLC and its predecessor, Harb-Adult. Over the years, LCAR has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars through its fundraising efforts to help underwrite the ever increasing costs of running this program and facility. As you can imagine, during these tough economic times, the need for TLC’s services has increased. It’s time once again for LCAR and the Lancaster community at large to step up to the plate and deliver a clutch hit. Please consider getting involved with one (or all) of the following:
1. LCAR’s Charity Dinner (October 8, 2009) – This is our Association’s annual fundraising event for TLC at the Eden Resort Inn. You can purchase a ticket for $100 that entitles you to a night of food, music, silent auctions, raffles and a chance to win $5,000 in cash. Guest tickets can also be purchased at $50 which entitles the bearer to everything mentioned above except eligibility for the cash prize. Contact me at tblefko@comcast.net if you would like to purchase a ticket or have questions.
2. LCAR’s Day of TLC for TLC (April 25, 2009) – An opportunity to help out TLC by volunteering a couple hours of your time on a Saturday morning to help keep their facility functioning. No special skills or money are required – just your time and willingness to lend a hand. E-Mail me at tblefko@comcast.net if you would like to help out.
3. Gift to TLC – If you can’t make it to the Charity Dinner or Day of TLC, you can still contribute. Go to their website and look at the available options for giving.
Let’s continue to provide the gift of hope for those residents of Lancaster County that need a temporary helping hand until they can get back on their feet.
