Peninsula Home Fund has helped 1,439 individuals and households in Jefferson and Clallam Counties, spending $110,943.13 of the $135,168.75 collected in 2005.

There’s no question all the money will be spent by Dec. 31.

With every dollar donated, 100 percent, going directly to assist those in need — there are no deductions for costs — the Peninsula Home Fund’s emphasis is on making sure no one falls through the cracks during the most demanding time of the year — winter.

The focus is also on a “hand-up, not a handout.”

All instances of assistance are designed to help get an individual or family back on the path to self-sufficiency.

The Peninsula Home Fund is disbursed by case managers at OlyCAP — nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula –which administers the fund for the PDN and screens the applicants.

The case managers work with each individual or family to develop a life-changing plan to become financially stable.

The goal: avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.

Said Tim Hockett, executive director of OlyCAP:

“More than 100 households per month [in 2006] were helped by OlyCAP using funds from the PDN’s Peninsula Home Fund.

“Medical, dental, housing and energy costs have consumed about two-thirds of the fund.

“Work-related transportation was also hard hit, not costing so much money but serving lots of people (more than 300).

“As the Home Fund grows, we are able to be a bit more liberal in the total we allow per household.

“Our new volunteer program is a big success, and we have volunteers assisting us every week.

“We also have two Vista volunteers who each spend a portion of their time providing assistance to folks in emergencies.

“They are part of a staff of 11 who use the Home Fund.”

All Peninsula Home Fund contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible for the yearly period in which the check is written.

How it’s been spent

A brief summary of Peninsula Home Fund assistance through Nov. 1:

* Rental assistance — $26,708.23; households or individuals helped, 197.

* Energy assistance — $17,190.87; 157.

* Prescriptions/lab expense assistance — $10,276.01; 232.

* Utility assistance (water-garbage-sewer) — $6,943.65; 62.

* Emergency housing or temporary shelter — $6,721.33; 57.

* Vehicle fuel expense — $5,656.71; 198.

* Miscellaneous — $6,692.86; 79

* Household furnishings — $3,981.81; 35.

* Car repair expense — $3,676.66; 24.

* Dental care assistance — $8,503.00; 91.

* Public transportation — $3,108.75; 117.

* Other — $11,483.25; 190.

TOTALS — $110,943.13; 1,439

Peninsula Daily News