The Devastating Financial Impact of COVID-19

The financial impacts of COVID-19 are continuing to devastate families we work with. Our phone has been ringing off the hook with frantic people in need of help with rent, mortgage and utility payments. While there have been moratoriums for some of these bills, not everyone qualifies and for those who do, the bills are still expected to be paid eventually.
 
Vonda Horst, our Financial Services Director, who has been with CCS for 18-years, says she has never seen anything like this. “It's so much worse than the recession, at least then people didn't have to worry about their health and that of their loved ones on top of everything else.”
 
We have people call who have a job, but no longer have childcare because caretakers are concerned about catching the virus from children. One set of parents took turns watching their kids, but the husband’s employer soon grew weary of allowing him to take time off, so he was fired. Another couple was exposed to COVID twice and each time they were under quarantine for at least 10 days with no pay.  Others have sickly family members they care for and must make the decision whether to go back to work and run the risk of bringing the virus back home or quit and have no income. These are just a few examples of the stories we hear.
 
“It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear what so many families are experiencing, and the guilt and shame they feel for needing help for something they had no way of predicting. There also isn’t a clear end in sight as to when things will be back to being relatively normal, which only increases everyone’s anxiety,” Vonda said. “The relief people express when we are able to help them is palpable, but the needs are huge and I fear families are going to be experiencing financial consequences of Covid for a long time to come.”
 
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