What Is AIM?

The primary purpose of The Alliance for Interfaith Ministries (AIM) is to provide emergency assistance to families threatened with homelessness, loss of power or fuel, or other temporary financial crisis.

 Where Does AIM Get Its Funding?

AIM is an ecumenical partnership that receives financial support from a number of area congregations. AIM also receives grants from local and family foundations and individuals. AIM receives no government funding.

How Is Assistance Provided?

Every emergency is documented and verified. AIM works with CARES (Coalition for Assisting Residents in Emergency Situations), which is the intake and assessment agency. During an appointment with AIM, the client is provided with a voucher for a specific service. The client takes the voucher to the service provider who signs it and returns it to AIM. The Alliance sends payment directly to the service provider. Funds are never distributed to the client.

AIM is staffed by training and caring volunteers and one part-time director. Files are kept on each client including the amount of monetary assistance received and the provider of that service (landlord, etc.). Statistics are maintained including how many in household, how many under five years, over 60 years, or disabled, and how many clients are new or repeats from previous years. Annual accounting letters are sent to all contributors and to each congregation.

 Why Does AIM Do What It Does?

Helping a family stay in their residence is of paramount importance to AIM. Roughly 95% of the clients referred to AIM are families living below the poverty line. When an emergency occurs, these families have nowhere to turn for assistance.

·         Helping families meet their basic housing requirements enables them to maintain their self-respect and dignity, and remain self-reliant, productive citizens.

·         Empowering recipients to maintain integrity of lifestyle and improve their condition is an investment in family stability.

·         Assisting families in tangible ways as they struggle with financial emergencies is an investment in community vigor and strength.