Low-Income Families Could Benefit from United Way $8,000 Grant

Low-income families in Severn could receive aid for basic expenses like housing after Anne Arundel County organizations received $8,000 from the United Way.

The one-time Community Response Grant given by the United Way of Central Maryland’s Community Partnership Board of Anne Arundel County will go to the county’s Department of Social Services and The Salvation Army of the Greater Baltimore Area.

The exact allocation of the funds is yet to be decided, but Severn residents who qualify for the aid could see assistance in avoiding eviction and finding safe, affordable and stable housing.

Of the total amount given, The Salvation Army will receive $7,500 for eviction funds for the North Anne Arundel Family Service Center, said United Way spokeswoman Ashley Gorby.

The decision to give the money to the agencies in Anne Arundel County was based on data, local experience and best practices of impact partners located in the county, said Gorby.

About $500 of the grant will go toward the Department of Social Services specifically to aid in transportation, a significant need for low-income families in Severn.

“There’s not a whole lot of public transportation for people out there and lower income [families] usually have trouble getting out to places like the doctor’s,” said Kathleen Koch, executive director of Arundel Community Development Services. “It’s crucial for these families to have proper transportation."

In a report by the Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS) regarding a need for in Severn, the town’s percentage of homes with children living in poverty (10.4 percent) is almost double that of all families in Anne Arundel County (6.6 percent).

“Several socio-economic factors indicate service needs in this area when compared to the relatively affluent county as a whole,” according to the report, which highlighted the need for additional grants like United Way's.

Neighborhoods like Meade Village and various others off of Pioneer Drive contain households that could use the support.

“Of all persons living in Pioneer Drive census tract, 26 percent are living below the poverty level compared to the eight percent in the entire zip code,” according to the ACDS report. It also stated that about 70 percent of all households off of Pioneer Drive are low- or moderate-income families, attributing young families and unemployment as key factors.

“At a time when unemployment remains high and food and gas prices are soaring, many people are struggling to make ends meet,” said Gorby. “For many, this means making a difficult decision—like paying rent or buying groceries.”