The nonprofit, which was awarded the highest funding amount allocated by the grant, will use the funds for utilities assistance through its Housing Advocates & Assistance programming.
New Bethany Inc., a local nonprofit that provides nutritious food access, housing and social services to under-resourced communities, announced it has received $22,500 from the Good Neighbor Fund at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.
“Utilities assistance is a massive part of our larger programming,” said New Bethany’s Executive Director Marc Rittle. “Each year, we strive to distribute as much utility assistance as we can, usually between $5,000 and $20,000, but we consistently see more requests than we have resources to fulfill. With this grant from the Good Neighbor Fund, we are able to extend our reach and provide much-needed relief to more individuals and families in our community who are struggling with energy costs.”
New Bethany’s Housing Advocates & Assistance programming helps remove barriers to safe, stable and permanent housing for low-income households. Utilities assistance is an essential tool in New Bethany’s overall programming and is crucial to the nonprofit’s success. Utility debt is often a barrier to obtaining or maintaining stable housing. The programming expanded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, New Bethany has distributed over $13 million in financial and rental assistance, including utility assistance, to over 3,000 households.
The Good Neighbor Fund was designed to address the growing energy cost burdens faced by households in eastern and central Pennsylvania. These grants, aimed at organizations with existing utility assistance programs, will provide crucial support to households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, with aid capped at $1,000 per household. Additionally, the grants will enable these community-based nonprofits to provide direct financial assistance to families struggling with home energy costs, including electricity, fuel, oil and even wood pellets. The program also includes administrative support to help nonprofits manage expenses, ensuring that resources are distributed efficiently and effectively to those in need.
This year, the Good Neighbor Fund awarded a total of $195,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $22,500 have been awarded to nonprofits serving 29 counties in the region. The funding is supported by the Good Neighbor Fund, an initiative that received initial funding from the PPL Foundation to address the growing financial challenges faced by families, particularly with rising home energy costs.
“Energy costs are a significant challenge for families, and we’re proud to provide this crucial support through these organizations.” said Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments at LVCF, “By empowering nonprofits already on the ground with the resources they need, we’re able to get help to families faster. This program underscores the importance of partnership in addressing community challenges.”
