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Sisters, Oregon
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More Sisters residents seek help from FAN
By Jim Cornelius

More Sisters area residents than ever are seeking emergency assistance from the Sisters Family Access Network (FAN).

FAN has provided a total of $13,928.85 in emergency funds to help 174 adults and 169 children in 2001-02, according to FAN Director Theresa Slavkovsky. That's up from $8,295.10 to 101 adults and 163 children the previous year.

Most of the financial assistance goes to help financially strapped families pay electric bills. Increased electricity costs, according to Slavkovsky, are in part responsible for the increased need.

Slavkovsky said that increased property taxes and rents also put families in a bind.

The FAN director had no data to support any conclusions about the impact of the general state and national economic situation on local people.

Many of the people who come to FAN for emergency financial help are seasonally employed in restaurants, retail services and construction. Many remain employed, but with reduced hours that make it hard to make ends meet.

The winter months are especially tough because the seasonal slowdown in the local economy coincides with higher bills for heating

"Some families will have an emergency crisis," Slavkovsky said.

Unexpected, uncovered medical bills can plunge an otherwise financially stable family into a crisis. Sometimes a car breaks down and a family must chose between getting the car repaired so they can get to work and paying the electric bill.

FAN provides more than just emergency assistance with electric bills and rent. Slavkovsky helps her clients access services such as the Oregon Health Plan, school lunch programs and other assistance programs. Where needed, she provides access to family counseling and domestic violence prevention.

About half of her clients need an occasional hand getting back on their feet; the other half regularly access her assistance along with food from the Kiwanis Food Bank.

Slavkovsky said that she counsels some families to move to a larger urban area where public transportation to work and a deeper level of services are available.

"Families want to raise their families here, just like you and I," she said. "But sometimes I have to encourage someone to move on. Some definitely do move on."

Often, the biggest reluctance to try to make a go of it elsewhere centers around the children.

"A lot of them will say, 'my kid's finally doing well in school,'" Slavkovsky said.

Long-term solutions are hard to come by.

"Low-income housing would be helpful for my families, but that is a community issue, not a FAN issue," Slavkovsky said.

She acknowledged that creating enough housing with low enough rent to stabilize many families is a major challenge in Sisters.

According to Slavkovsky, "$800 a month for two bedrooms is too expensive. A family could probably pull off $400 a month rent."

FAN is supported by local service organizations and the City of Sisters recently provided a $2,500 grant to help in-city residents with water and garbage bills.

The local medical community has been very supportive in helping provide health care, Slavkovsky said.

For more information call 549-0155.

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