VALLEY NEIGHBORS OF THE FLATHEAD

IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED HOUSING SUPPORT, LEGAL REFERRALS AND FUNDING, MEDICAL AND DENTAL REFERRALS, LANGUAGE SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING BENEFITS AND SERVICES INCLUDING NAVIGATING A NEW CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR 19 IMMIGRANT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN TO FILE FOR ASYLUM. OUR CLIENTS WORKED ON PAYING PORTIONS OF THEIR LEGAL FEES, PAYING BACK LOANS FOR URGENT NEEDS, AND WORKED THEIR WAY UP TO PAYING THEIR RENT INDEPENDENTLY. THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ENABLE US TO ASSIST EVEN MORE CLIENTS. HOUSING PROGRAM: IN 2025, WITH YOUR HELP WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO HOUSING, THROUGH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HELP WITH UTILITIES, LANDLORD OUTREACH, AND OTHER CREATIVE APPROACHES. WHILE HOUSING IS A SIGNIFICANT BUDGETARY EXPENDITURE, WE ALSO BROUGHT IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CLIENT RENT TO HELP STRETCH OUR HOUSING DOLLARS FURTHER. RENT SPENDING COMPRISED 161,378, BUT CLIENT RENT REPAID 104,087 OF THAT COST. YOUR GIVING HELPED TO FUND A CONTRACTOR WHO MANAGES OUR HOUSING PROGRAM. EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, OUR HOUSING COORDINATOR WAS ABLE TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH RENT READINESS MEETINGS AND HELP FILLING OUT HOUSING APPLICATIONS. LEGAL ACCESS PROGRAM: WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO FUND IMPORTANT LEGAL ASSISTANCE, WORK THAT OPENS THE DOORS TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK AS A FULL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. WORK PERMITS AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS HELP PROTECT PEOPLE FROM EXPLOITATIVE WORK AND HOUSING SITUATIONS. THEY EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR FAMILYS NEEDS THEMSELVES, WHICH IS THE DESIRE OF ALMOST EVERY CLIENT WE WORK WITH. WITH THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR DONORS, WE FUNDED A LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR, PROVIDED FOR A DOCUMENT PREPARER OR LAWYER TO HELP 19 PEOPLE PREPARE THEIR ASYLUM APPLICATIONS (A TOTAL OF 7 CASES). OUR LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF THE STEPS THEY NEEDED TO COMPLETE IN THEIR PROCESS AND CONNECTED THEM TO THE RESOURCES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR SITUATION AND NEEDS. SOCIAL SERVICES: OUR SOCIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR WORKED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH A MYRIAD OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS, LIKE HOW TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE, CAR INSURANCE, OR REGISTER A CAR. HE ASSISTED CLIENTS IN NAVIGATING THE PUBLIC BENEFITS OFFICE, FOR THE FEW WHO QUALIFIED.