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Homelessness. It’s a word in our mission statement: “Preventing Hunger and Homelessness...” It’s also a reality we see on the news and on our streets. But the real question is—what are we doing about it?
On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I was struck by the overwhelming number of people living under bridges and downtown. I watched a driver ahead of me hand cold bottles of water to homeless individuals at a highway on-ramp—an act of kindness on a hot day. But while compassionate, it didn’t solve the deeper issue.
And the issue isn’t just in other states. We see tents along highways in Dallas, homeless people on sidewalks in Fort Worth, at intersections in Plano, and in wooded areas right here in Allen and McKinney. Families sleep in cars in store parking lots, clean up in public restrooms before school or work, and sometimes find their way to ACO’s lobby or Food Pantry. Cities may remove encampments or pass laws to limit where unhoused people can be seen, but that’s not solving the problem—it’s only hiding it.
We talk about homelessness as an “issue,” but the issue is about real people—our neighbors. They are individuals struggling with mental illness or addiction, workers who lost jobs without a safety net, young people displaced by family issues, and parents with children who have nowhere else to go. It is even more difficult if they have a family pet with them.
It’s easy to discuss the homeless situation over family dinner or among friends. It’s far harder to fix it. ACO doesn’t have all the answers. What we do have is our mission: prevention.
Prevention means helping families before they lose their homes. Emergency rent assistance is costly, but it can stop eviction and buy time to address root causes. ACO receives up to 20 housing and utility assistance requests each weekday. With an average need of $1,200 per family, meeting every request would require $96,000 per month—or $1.1 million per year. Current funding from grants, cities, and private donors help, but it’s not enough.
When families enter our comprehensive program, we do more than keep them safe in their homes. We offer job placement support, education and training, and we require classes in budgeting and financial literacy all at the ACO Kiser-Covington Learning Academy. Families also receive monthly groceries from our Food Pantry—saving them $500 or more each month—along with costly essentials through their “Cares Account” at the ACO Cares Center. From laundry detergent and hygiene products to clothing and shoes, to new school supplies and holiday toys, these resources provide thousands of dollars in support while families rebuild stability.
So, what’s my point? While we may not solve today’s homeless crisis, we can prevent future homelessness—through effective programs, services, and hope. But prevention requires community support.
ACO has the staff, compassion, and expertise to guide families to stability. What we need are the resources to reach more of them. That’s where you come in. Your financial gifts truly change lives. Together, we can prevent homelessness before it starts.
ONE MORE THING... a reminder: our GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE summer campaign is nearing its close, and we are still short of our goal. We’ve extended the deadline through September 15. If you haven’t yet contributed, please do so today. Whatever the amount, your gift provides stability and a chance at a brighter future for families in Collin County. Thank you, as always, for holding hands with ACO. Our logo says it all.
Finally, it’s time for tickets! Join us for THE party of the year as ACO celebrates 40 years of serving our communities with the MAIN EVENT on Friday, October 3 at Heritage Ranch Country Club. It will be a birthday party like you’ve never seen! We’re going back to the 80’s with music and fun, 1985 to be specific, when it all started for ACO. You can come in your party-casual clothes or totally rad 80’s garb. I bet there’s still something from 1985 in your closet! See the info below and click the link for details.
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