The Episcopal Fund for Human Needs is a highly desirable useful instrument designed to respond quickly and immediately to dire needs of human beings, Episcopalians, and others. This brief report is a reminder of the presence of the fund, what it is, and how is it used.
What is the Fund? How did it originate? How does it function? The Fund was a part of the Venture in Mission Program in the 1980’s, and the convention enabling legislation was enacted at the 1986 convention. That legislation called for the establishment of the fund, for an advisory board, and the legislation set up broad outlines for function. As to function, it is the purpose of the Fund, insofar as possible, to translate applicants from one stage in life to another. It is not designed for chronic need, but rather for the most part, dire, unexpected, unanticipated need. The application is normally completed for the applicant by a priest, forwarded to the diocesan office, where it is acted upon quickly with the approval of one of the board members. The disbursement in general is made to the discretionary fund of the priest who fostered the application.
The basic corpus of the Fund was established as arising from Venture in Mission, but since the establishment of the Fund, there has been one substantial, unsolicited capital grant, and each year there have been a few contributions from outreach programs of parishes and from individuals. In order to stretch the funds available as far as possible, there is a limitation of $700 on each grant.
A typical request and the majority of applications has to do with housing, but other needs are for utilities, automobile expense, and medical expense not covered by insurance. By no means do thise samples indicate the array of the kinds of needs that have been met, but they are illistrative.
The Fund does have a series of guidelines, not at all to be restrictive, but to recognize that a modest fund of this variety cannot meet all needs. Let us emphasize again this is designed for all people in need, not just Episcopalians.
It is important to be aware that the Fund in effect, is a court of last resort. That is, the guidelines do ask that all other possible sources be employed first.
For those who may have specific questions about any aspect of the Episcopal Fund for Human Needs, please contact Ms. Debbie Nettle at (315) 474-6596 or office@cny.anglican.org