Navigating Support When Benefits Pause

We share fast, clear ways to find food, rent help and local resources as government shutdown effects ripple through our parishes. Crystal Ward from Capital Area United Way explains how 211 works, which partners are active, and how donors can keep the safety net strong.

• increased calls for food support and essentials
• how 211 routes by parish and follows up
• Greater Food Bank access and monthly drives
• Family Stability Program for eviction prevention
• practical info to have when calling 211
• typical 24–48 hour response times
• simple ways to donate through cauw.org
• tackling stigma and asking for help early

If you or someone you know needs help, dial 211 for local support
Visit cauw.org to give or to volunteer or to learn more ways to help
Subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast, and visit neighborsfcu.org/financialwellness for more tools to help you build a strong financial future

Have an idea for a show or a question for Kim? Send us a text message

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Welcome to Money Matters, the podcast that focuses on how to use the money you have, make the money you need and save the money you want – brought to you by Neighbors Federal Credit Union.

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:02):
Welcome to Money Matters, the podcast that
focuses on how to use the moneyyou have, make the money you
need, and save the money youwant.
Now, here is your host, Ms.
Kim Chapman.

SPEAKER_02 (00:14):
Welcome to another edition of Money Matters.
Today we're going to talk abouthow we can provide community
resources for those that are inneed.
You know, it's no strangers, nonews flash that there's been a
lot of government shutdown.
There are snap benefits, they'recoming, they're going.
What are people supposed to do?
So today we're going to discoverthat information with Crystal

(00:36):
Ward with Capital Area UnitedWay.
Hi, Crystal.
How are you today?
Hey, Miss Kim.
Thanks so much for having me.
So Crystal is not only withCapital Area United Way, but
she's also one of our jumpstartpartners where we love getting
together and pushing financialeducation.
So, Crystal, tell us a littlebit about your position and what
you do at United Way.

SPEAKER_01 (00:55):
Sure.
I um I get to serve as thesenior director of community
impact.
And through that, we uh not onlyhead up our programs like Vita,
volunteer income um taxassistance, um, but we also have
programs, I manage all of theseprograms.
Um we also have a SEMAR, whichis Family Stability Program.

(01:16):
Um, and I actually help withcreating the grants that go out
to the nonprofits that helpserve our community.

SPEAKER_02 (01:22):
Okay.
So tell me, what have you seenor what type of calls or
requests have you been receivingin light of the government
shutdown and then the SNAPbenefits pausing?

SPEAKER_01 (01:32):
Yeah, so we um we see that the need is great and
it's definitely increased due tothe government shutdown.
Um, help seekers are now beforewe heard about utility
assistance and rentalassistance, but now we're
actually getting calls aboutfood.
Where can they find food to feedtheir family?
Um, and so yeah, the we justnoticed that the the needs have

(01:53):
definitely increased.
Okay.

SPEAKER_02 (01:55):
And so how is Capital Area United Way stepping
up?
Tell us a little bit about theorganization and definitely, of
course, the partnerships thatyou have.

SPEAKER_01 (02:04):
Yeah, so we're um Capital Area United Way has
partnerships with Greater FoodBank, um, Catholic Charities,
St.
Vincent de Paul.
And at Capital Area United Way,we have created a community
relief fund where wherecommunity members, employers,
other nonprofits, whoever can goin and donate to help with food
and security in our 10 parisharea.

(02:25):
We serve 10 parishes.
So not only EBR, but we go asfar south as St.
James, we go over to Ibrabilleand West Baton Rouge.
Who should call?
Um if they need help, anybody.
If you're in need, reach out.
Call through 211.
Um, 211, the way the processnormally works is through 211,
they'll get a referralspecialist, and that referral

(02:47):
specialist will send them towhatever parish that they're in
need of.
If it's tied to our 10 parishes,they'll contact us, they'll send
them to us, and then a carecoordinator or pick it up from
there and help them identifyresources within the community.

SPEAKER_02 (02:59):
So let's talk a little bit more about some of
the different organizations thatyou partner with.
So and I I guess I really wantto focus a little bit on the
food bank, if you can, and tellus what the food bank is
providing.

SPEAKER_01 (03:10):
Yeah, so if they are in need and they're looking for
food, they can reach out to umthe Greater Food Bank and go in
and get those resources that areneeded.
Um, we've noticed that the foodbank has been an excellent
partner during this time.
Um, but we've also heard aboutdifferent organizations having
food drives.

(03:31):
Um, we actually do a food drivemonthly.
We'll have one this Wednesday.
It's called United We Feed downin St.
James Parish.
Okay.

SPEAKER_02 (03:39):
And what's the date on that?
Because that this may air beforeor after that, but what's the
date for the food?

SPEAKER_01 (03:45):
Um, it is the 19th.
So November 19th, this comingWednesday, but we'll have
another one in December, thirdWednesday.
We're trying to get in front ofthe holidays.
So it'll be the third Wednesdayin December for United We Feed
as well.
Because we know that this willkind of trinkle.
It's gonna be a snowball effect,right?

SPEAKER_02 (04:03):
Exactly.
We don't anticipate that, youknow, once the government
shutdown is over, that theproblems will go away.
You know, how big of an increasehave you had in terms of people
calling or stopping by orgetting information just
compared to before thegovernment shutdown?

SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
Yeah, so um we don't have exact numbers yet, but I
can tell you that um two-on-onecalls have increased.
Not only two-on-one calls,they're actually calling United
Way directly now.
And so I don't think we've seenwe've seen the increase since
the summer really, but thismonth, end of last month, kind
of exploded.
And then with that trinkleeffect, um, we actually see some

(04:41):
local government employees thatwere laid off coming by our
office, calling the phone.

SPEAKER_02 (04:46):
And I'm glad you said for people that maybe have
never been laid off.
So for individuals that have metnever needed assistance before
and finding themselves in thissituation, what would you say to
them about reaching out?
Because sometimes there's alittle stigma that's associated
with what somebody may considera handout versus a hand up.

SPEAKER_01 (05:03):
Yeah, yeah.
I would, I mean, I would justencourage them.
Look, this is the time and thisis the season where community
matters, right?
So don't allow the stigma tostop you.
Everybody finds a little bump inthe road.
And how the old folks used tosay, you just keep on living.
It's gonna come around, right?
Um, but don't allow um whateverthat is to stop you from

(05:24):
reaching out because resourcesare here.
The community is here, UnitedWay is here.
People like Miss Kim Chapman,we're here, right, to help um to
identify those resources thatare available in the community.

SPEAKER_02 (05:34):
And so there's food, there's possibility with
utilities.
What may be some other ones,just in case somebody's
listening, and maybe they don'tneed the food, maybe they don't
need utilities, housing, whatelse can United Way connect them
with in terms of partners?

SPEAKER_01 (05:47):
Yeah, we um if there is, if you're facing eviction,
we have an internal uh programthat's called Family Stability,
and Miss Alicia Rao, ourdirector, runs that program
seamlessly.
So if they have school-agechildren in the home and they're
facing eviction or utilityshutoff, she's right there to
help them avoid moving thosechildren out of that area so

(06:08):
they can get through the schoolyear.
So that's an internal program.
They can call 211 and find outmore about that.
Um, we have, and then any otherresources that are within the
community to help with housingstability.

SPEAKER_02 (06:20):
Does 211 have specific hours, business hours?
It's 24 hours a day, so that'sgood, really, really great.
And then for our listeners thatmaybe they are not in need, but
they want to be able to help.
You know, it's always each onereach one, right?
Somebody give back.
So if somebody wants to be ableto donate, what can they do if
they want to help?

SPEAKER_01 (06:39):
Yeah, they can go straight to our website,
cauw.org.
Um, we have you'll see a pop-upscreen that'll say community
relief fund.
$2 can help a family,$40 canhelp for a box.
You know, whatever they want togive, as small as$2, we'll take
all of it and make sure it getsout into the community.

SPEAKER_02 (06:56):
And if somebody dials 211, what can they expect?
What what are, you know, who'sgonna be on the other end?
What information, if anything,should they have prepared to
give to whoever answers thatcall?

SPEAKER_01 (07:07):
Yeah.
So um, if they dial into 211,they'll get a referral
specialist.
And then that referralspecialist, they'll be, they'll
capture their name, but alsowhat parish or their zip code so
they can know which United way,where they're located at.
If they're tied to our 10parishes, that referral
specialist will say, Hey, I'mgoing to connect you.
I'm sorry, their name, their zipcode, and their phone number.

(07:30):
Um, I'm gonna connect you withsomebody in the capital area and
they'll reach back out.
And so it goes through thatproper channel.
One of our care coordinatorsgets that information and then
they reach out.

SPEAKER_02 (07:40):
And then do you have any idea what that turnaround
time is?
If I call 211 today, how long Ican expect before someone will
reach out to me?

SPEAKER_01 (07:49):
Um, it's normally a quick turnaround.
You have maybe 24 to 48 hours umturnaround, and sometimes even
sooner than that, depending onthe volume.

SPEAKER_02 (07:57):
So again, some really good resources.
I know that again, whether it'syour first time needing
assistance or just the next timeneeding assistance.
211 United Way has some really,really good resources.
Any final thoughts, any finalwords of advice for anybody that
may be in need of assistance?

SPEAKER_01 (08:14):
Reach out.
We're here.
Um We don't know what the needis unless you call and tell us,
right?
We can't help unless you reachout.
And right now, this is whencommunity really shines.
So I would encourage anybodythat's in need, reach out.
Let us help.

SPEAKER_02 (08:30):
Well, hopefully this crisis will end soon.
But if not, we'll definitelyhave you come back and give us
an update on any new resourcesthat may be available.
Thank you, Crystal.
Thank you, Ms.
Kim, for having me.

SPEAKER_00 (08:42):
It's time for blueprint building blocks.
Small changes that lead to bigfinancial wins.
Let's stack up for success.

SPEAKER_02 (08:52):
In times of challenge, it is our community
that shines the brightest.
Every neighbor who checks in,every volunteer who shows up,
every donor who gives, you'rekeeping a safety net strong.
If you or someone you know needshelp, dial 211 for local
support.
You heard it right here fromCrystal Ward.
Share that number because younever know who may need it.

(09:13):
Today, take a moment to check ona friend, a coworker, or a
neighbor who could use a littleencouragement.
And as part of the solution,visit cauw.org to give or to
volunteer or to learn more waysto help.

SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
That's a wrap on today's Blueprint Building
Blocks.
Stay on track with yourfinancial journey.
Subscribe to the Money MattersPodcast, and visit
neighborsfcu.org slash financialwellness for more tools to help
you build a strong financialfuture.