STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
COVID CURVES BY PAUL RIES
In March as workers ordered to shelter in place saw weekly paychecks dry up, a group of Wood River Valley residents started the Blaine County Charitable Fund to come to the rescue.
Over the next 12 weeks the volunteers raised nearly $139,000, eventually helping 117 Blaine County households to pay their rent, utilities, car payments and phone payments.
“In a month when I was not able to pay rent and my sister and I were going to buy a cheap car to sleep in, we really appreciate you making sure we could stay in our home,” wrote a hotel/restaurant worker.
Things have quieted a bit over the past couple months as many got back to work and the number of requests for assistance went from 30 a week to six.
But things heated up again this week with the nation’s eviction moratorium for 12 million renters coming to an end along with the $600-a-week unemployment benefits under the CARES Act.
“We had some very panicked applicants this week,” said Mary Fauth, who serves as president of the Blaine County Charitable Fund. “We heard from eight people this past week for whom the threat of eviction is very real. We heard from two others who had severe back rent due, and we expect to hear from at least five or six more this week.”
Among those who sought help this past week was a single father of two children whose parents live with him. He had been getting further behind on his rent and was relieved and excited to tell his parents and children that it was going to be okay for the time being.
“I can’t imagine how stressful it is for children in a home where parents are stressed,” said Fauth.
With no end to the pandemic in sight, the group is trying to raise another $100,000 to address the needs it expects in the fall.
Fauth said she expects that many workers will see their paychecks contract during slack. And some of those who have requested help have been unable to apply for government unemployment assistance or Paycheck Protection Program loans because they’re undocumented.
“We’re just trying to be ready for the crises, to keep residents in their home,” she said. “We want to make sure we are ready and able to help in the fall when much is still unknown and people might find themselves out of work again. Some may even be unable to work if schools don’t open because they will have to stay home to take care of children.”
Many of those who need help have jobs in housekeeping, restaurant business, construction, medical, retail and hotel business. They’re not getting as many hours as they might have in the past, said Faith.
About 85 percent of the fund’s applicants have been from the LatinX community, with a third of them single moms. It doesn’t help that Hailey ranks 19th in the entire country for having one of the largest income gaps where one in four families are one crisis away from not having food on the table.
Those applying for assistance must be earning 80 percent or less than the area median income. That’s $43,900 for an individual and $62,700 for a family of four. But most of the applicants earn between 10 percent and 30 percent of the area median income, or between $15,000 and $30,000 said Fauth.
The Spur Foundation headed by Sally Gillespie has committed $30,000 thus far to make sure the Blaine County Charitable Fund can keep administering funds and provide Spanish language assistance from College of Southern Idaho student Monica Carillo.
Gillespie said those involved with the Foundation were impressed by how quickly the Charitable Fund moved to create an organization to provide financial assistance.
Other major contributors have included boozie’s Cocktails for COVID-19 Idaho Relief Fund, which raised $13,057 for the BCCF and $33,603 for the Boise State University nursing program through the sale of its beverages in select markets.
Blaine County Charitable Fund board members include Mary and Daryl Fauth, Kevin Jones, Sue Hamilton, Shannon, McLean, Penny Thayer and Stephen D. Thompson PLLC.
Those wishing to make a donation may do so at www.blainecf.org or at Box 265 Hailey, ID 83333. For more information, call 208-244-2505 or email info@blainecf.org.
IDAHO CASES SLOW
Idaho's daily new cases of coronavirus have dipped below 400 each of the past few days.
The state recorded 331 on Monday after recording a total of 561 on Saturday and Sunday. It has amassed 2,1675 total.
Blaine County recorded one new case on Monday after one new case over the weekend bringing it to 570.
The state recorded its 200th COVID-related death on Monday--three more than Saturday.