Family Services Expands Support Through 1115 Waiver Services

Across our community, more families are finding themselves caught in an increasingly difficult situation. They are working hard, caring for their children, and doing everything they can to stay afloat, yet rising housing costs, food insecurity, utility expenses, and changes to public benefits are making stability harder to maintain.

Many families are now losing or facing interruptions in SNAP and Medicaid benefits as they navigate complicated recertification processes or experience income changes that place them just above eligibility limits. While some families may technically earn too much to qualify for assistance, the reality is that many are still struggling to afford rent, groceries, transportation, and basic household needs.

At LifeWorks, Family Services is helping families bridge that gap before a temporary hardship becomes a crisis. Through 1115 waiver services, families can access housing case management, rental and utility assistance, nutrition resources, meals, and Enhanced Care Management services that help individuals and families work toward their own personal goals and long term stability.

For one single mother with young children, that support arrived just in time. After falling behind on rent, her family was facing eviction and the possibility of losing the stability they had worked so hard to build. Family Services helped pay off the family’s back rent and provided temporary future rental assistance, allowing the family to remain safely housed while regaining financial footing. With the immediate crisis behind her, the mother is now able to focus on the future instead of survival. She has started saving toward more reliable transportation, which will allow her to pursue better employment opportunities and create greater stability for her children.

Other families are facing challenges that can seem simple to some, but overwhelming when resources are already stretched thin. Earlier this year, Family Services assisted a household whose propane tank had run completely empty during the cold season. Without heat or the ability to cook meals, the family was struggling to safely care for their home. Through emergency assistance, the propane tank was filled, giving the family warmth, comfort, and peace of mind during the remaining winter nights.

Family Services also supports families as they transition from homelessness and housing instability into permanent homes. Recently, staff provided kitchen essentials to clients moving into new housing so they could begin rebuilding daily routines around cooking and caring for their families.

One mother who had recently secured housing after a long period of instability received several household items, including a microwave. She shared that it was the first microwave she had owned in ten years and spoke about how excited she was to prepare meals for her young daughter in their new home.

Moments like these are about much more than financial assistance or household items. They represent safety, dignity, relief, and the opportunity for families to begin building stability again.

Because of generous donor support, Family Services can continue meeting families where they are, helping them navigate difficult moments while creating pathways toward long term success. Every meal provided, utility bill paid, and family kept safely housed is a reminder that no one should have to face hardship alone.

Family Services staff with various kitchen items that were purchased through the waiver services for eligible clients.