St. Vincent de Paul Sedona Faces Surge in Community Needs

The St. John Vianney Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is experiencing a surge in demand for food and financial assistance in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Glaring increases in living costs, particularly rent and utility bills, have compelled more residents to seek help.

According to grant writer Andrew Brearley, the organization aims to provide “tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis.” In an application to the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) for $10,000 to bolster its rental assistance program, Brearley highlighted the growing need since the program’s inception in Sedona in 1987. The assistance includes not only help with rent and utility payments but also a weekly food bank. Results from the ACF grant will be revealed in November.

The rental assistance protocol begins when a volunteer takes a call from someone in need. Following this, two additional volunteers visit the individual to assess their situation. Treasurer Bill Koza emphasized the personalized nature of assistance, noting that unique circumstances dictate the support offered. Some clients receive help for consecutive months, reflecting their potential for future stability.

This year alone, around 30 families have benefitted from an average of $1,000 each in rental assistance. Although assistance is generally a one-time service, ongoing needs are addressed based on individual reviews. Applicants must provide a current lease; exemptions apply for security deposits.

“Food assistance requests have remained stable but concerns about rent and housing are noticeably on the rise,” stated Koza. He and his wife Maureen have volunteered with the charity for 12 years since their retirement.

The Koza couple’s goal is to ensure housing stability while aptly distributing grant funds to avoid resource monopolization. According to Brearley, rising home prices may explain the decline in mortgage assistance requests since homeowners can often leverage their equity for loans.

Criteria for aid approval include local residency, income levels, reasons for financial hardship, and previous assistance requests. Once vetted, payments are made directly to landlords. Additionally, the organization mandates financial counseling for all recipients.

“We focus on helping clients understand their financial situations; the goal isn’t solely financial relief,” Maureen Koza explained. She also noted that 50% of rental assistance inquiries come from residents of manufactured homes, particularly after recent rent increases in local mobile home parks.

Among the reported increases, residents at Windsong Mobile Home Park faced lot fee hikes of $300 to $400, pushing monthly rents to around $1,000.

In addition, the charity is addressing transportation needs. Maureen revealed that there was a noteworthy influx of requests for auto repair funding in the past year. While they prioritize safety-related repairs, many requests highlight the struggles of clients living in their vehicles. The charity successfully assisted 52 transportation-related cases in the last 12 months.

This year, the Sedona City Council awarded St. Vincent de Paul $7,500 through the Small Grants Program to address various transportation-related needs, including auto repairs, insurance, and emergency travel.

“Even with limited funds, requests for automotive assistance keep coming,” Maureen noted, adding that many vehicles needing repairs often exceed their value due to age and mileage.

The charity operates a food pantry at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, ensuring that everybody who seeks food assistance can receive it. “No one is denied food,” confirmed Bill Koza, who believes they are meeting the community’s current demand.

Those interested in supporting the St. Vincent de Paul Society can make monetary donations to P.O. Box 612, Sedona, AZ 86339, or drop off food donations at the church. For further information, visit sjvsedona.org/stvincent-de-paul or call (928) 821-1292 for assistance.