- April 18, 2024
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Some local social assistance organizations are expecting this round of federal stimulus payments to decrease demand for their services, while others, looking to past experience, expect minimal, if any, change.
Some of the people with the greatest financial need won't get stimulus payments because they don't have an address, bank account or stable work and tax history. Others may benefit temporarily from a stimulus payment but still can't find the right job to sustain them in the long term.
"It's really exciting that people are going to get $1,400 — that’s pretty good," said Sue Bickings, who chairs the board of The Sheltering Tree, the local cold weather shelter that also provides limited rental and utility shutoff assistance.
Bickings had noticed that requests for rental and utility assistance seemed to decline around the time the last two rounds of stimulus money were dispersed, and she expects similar declines this time.
The amount given in aid by The Sheltering Tree is generally low — an emergency $100 or less to keep someone's water running, she said — so The Sheltering Tree will be less likely to assist with those for people who are receiving stimulus checks.
"If people come to us to get utility assistance or rent assistance — well, we know that there’s $1,400 out there, so you’re not going to be getting that this month, but let's hear your story: There might be something else out there that's not financial that we could do," she said.
In contrast, the Flagler County government's Social Services department, which provides more extensive financial assistance, isn't changing its processes as a result of the stimulus checks, as they aren't considered taxable income, according to county government spokesperson Julie Murphy.
The Sheltering Tree often works with homeless clients who don't receive the checks because they don't have an address or stable employment history, Bickings said.
But she's optimistic that the end of the pandemic is near.
"I think things look like they’re getting back to normal," she said, "and I just hope people will continue to wear their masks; we at The Sheltering Tree are continuing to wear our masks even though some of us have been vaccinated."
Grace Community Food Pantry Director Pastor Charles Silano said he hasn't noticed much change in demand for the food pantry's service from the arrival of the previous stimulus checks.
"That might happen on a temporary basis, but that money runs out eventually," he said. "It’s still about jobs, at the end of the day."
For instance, although demand for the food pantry has surged since the pandemic began — from about 3,800 families a month before COVID, to about 6,000 a month now — it dropped down slightly during Bike Week because people were able to pick up temporary jobs, Silano said. That happens during other big events like Octoberfest, as well.
"We see this every year: It’s cyclical," he said. The pantry saw a high of 6,500 families per month, lasting for several months, Silano said. It's distributing about 40% more food than before the pandemic, distributing more than 3.5 million pounds of food last year.
"I don’t know exactly how this is going to go," he said of the coming end of the pandemic. "You have your gas prices that are going up, so even the jobs people do get, they're spending more. And I’m not an economist, but I read the reports about inflation fears, and there’s a lot of factors. ... We’ll see how many people retain their jobs, because it’s just a different world today."
But he's hopeful.
"The community has really responded to support those that are less fortunate this whole year; it’s been really really wonderful," he said. " ... I think things will start to get better. I do have that sense."
