AUSTIN, Texas — As the cost of living in Austin continues to rise, local nonprofit Foundation Communities helps with rent and utilities.
Each year, Foundation Communities provides help to around 200 families through its Emergency Assistance Program (EAP).
"[It] helps families when they have hardships financially, like a medical problem, or a loss of employment or just getting under water because the cost of living is just so high these days," said Foundation Communities Communications Manager, Norris Deajon.
Deajon said the demand to help families continues to increase. The organization is providing more than $200,000 of assistance through the EAP annually.
"That has exhausted our budget for emergency assistance, and so we are asking generous Central Texans to help us fill that budget shortfall so we can continue to stand alongside our residents during times of financial hardship,” Deajon said.
Jamie Lopez, his partner Karol Iruejas and their 5-year-old son got assistance from Foundation Communities.
"I don't know where we would be without that help. We might be homeless. It would way harder for us to get ahead," said Iruejas.
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