Family Support Center

Rebuilding Hope Together

The Society is committed to improving people’s quality of life and developing their skills through a variety of services. Our goals and objectives are to:

• Offer food to those who are hungry and in need
• Identify and broaden an individual’s skills
• Provide the educational tools, information and knowledge to improve an individual’s abilities and promote long-term self-sufficiency and security
• Assist with benefit screenings and tax preparation, which not only keeps an individual afloat but supports him or her to achieve greater self-sufficiency

The Family Support Center collaborates with local St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and partnering agencies to provide a wide variety of services, making it easier for individuals and families in need to get the most information and service in one place. These services fall into three categories: education, benefits and nutrition.

Visitors or those referred to the Family Support Center are interviewed to assess the situation to determine how the Support Center can best respond. The FSC’s goal is to provide long-lasting solutions that will help guests move beyond the crisis or cycle in which they feel entrapped.  A primary focus of the Support Center is to provide food.  After the initial interview, clients are invited to shop in the Client-Choice Food Pantry with a volunteer’s help and obtain food that is determined by a “point system.”   In order to help client retain as much of the monthly funds as possible, clients are screened for benefits.  Once qualified the benefit frees up money that can be transferred to other budgetary needs. The FSC is able to screen individuals for government or community benefits, determine eligibility and advance the application more quickly through the process. Learn more about our Benefits Screening. 

Guests will also be informed of other programs or opportunities that can improve their present status, such as educational programs, partner agency services or programs and benefits beyond those offered by St. Vincent de Paul.
During the traditional income tax reporting season, guests are invited to have their taxes prepared free of charge. This service affords guests the ability of saving the preparation cost and ensures that all credits (such as the Earned Income Tax Credit) and other deductions that provide monetary refunds are included. These cost-saving measures can make a huge impact on households that are financially struggling. Learn more about our participation in the VITA Tax program.  

Upon completion of the initial interview and information session, guests in need of food begin the shopping process.