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Many of us have often wondered, do we really make a difference? How can this little bit really help a family avoid eviction and homelessness? MAM turned to an independent evaluator who studied our rent assistance program and what we learned was amazing. MAM supports families with a verified need of rent assistance with payment of up to $120 paid directly to the landlord. What we learned by looking a little deeper into the lives of the people we help was eye opening: *80% of the families we help are still in their apartments or have moved in good standing 3 months later *more than a third of these families use 50% of their take home pay for rent * ordinarily they are able to pay their rent and other bills Additional programs at MAM help them tremendously. If a school age child needs an optometrist vist, our I Can See program pays for vision testing and eyeglasses if needed once a year, gasoline and bus tokens can help workers get to the job or to a job interview, a visit to the doctor can mean no missed days at work or school and also important is the compassionate listener who treats everyone with respect and dignity. What would you do if you didn't regularly earn enough to house your family in even the most modest accommodations? MAM is working to provide long term solutions for the underemployed. English as a Second Language programs improve conversation an literacy skills, the Job Bank helps to find better paying jobs, families can enroll in Harris County's sliding fee scale medical insurance plan, the Gold Card and CHIPS and we help register for food stamps. Each year during tax season, families find free assistance with tax preparation and filing including the Earned Income Credit. And when it is simply too much and the stress of living in poverty has compromised one's ability to function, MAM has been able to provide short term mental health counseling with the help of Family Services of Greater Houston.
MAM's help is tangible. It makes a difference. Homelessness prevention works - even an ounce.
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