Blaine County Charitable Fund (BCCF) makes grants to citizens in Blaine County (regardless of citizenship status) who lack other resources to obtain financial assistance. We focus mostly, but not exclusively, on housing, utilities, transportation, and health care in times of unanticipated crisis. BCCF’s objectives are to provide quality assistance programs that bring stability to households, promote equitable access to resources, and strengthen our clients’ ability to move through and past crises.
An ongoing population influx, combined with a pre-existing housing crisis escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to unprecedented rates of homelessness, housing insecurity, and requests for food and other essential services in our county. The situation has exposed massive gaps in available services and elicited insufficient response from community leaders. BCCF was formed in the spring of 2020 to address these issues and to provide stability for households.
BCCF currently operates three core services:
- Housing Stability Assistance: Emergency rent assistance is offered up to three time a year for households that are experiencing financial hardship such as job loss, work reduction, or other unanticipated critical expense. Additionally, BCCF provides move in assistance when households are unable to afford the costs of obtaining new housing. Lastly, in conjunction with the Housing Mediation Project, BCCF can provide financial help for households in mediation to avoid receiving an eviction judgement. Our program’s goal is to maintain housing stability and give clients an opportunity to learn how to manage household expenses, reduce debt and gain access to additional resources.
- Bridge the Gap Programs: Through Childcare Assistance and Down Payment Assistance, BCCF is increasing the ability for households to increase economic mobility and gain permanent housing stability through home ownership.
- The Rapid Relief Program addresses other unanticipated emergency needs, including but not limited to: expenses related to health, ability to work, maintaining a safe living environment, and avoiding an eviction judgment.
