Project Ezrah Needs Inc.

Project Ezrah Needs, Inc. founded in 2005, utilizes a specifically developed multi-faceted program to guide and assist each client family in creating a lifestyle that enables them to be financially and emotionally self-sufficient as well as productive members of their community. Case workers, financial counselors, and employment counselors create individualized programs based on specific needs, focusing on financial responsibility, budgeting skills, emotional support, and community integration. They provide assistance through various tailored programs including help with critical living expenses, medical bills, approved invoices, food allowances, and singular needs assistance. The organization works closely with community professionals and rabbonim to aid families confidentially and with dignity, aiming to help clients find meaningful employment and develop self-confidence.

Client Families Needing Financial Assistance Project EZRAH administers two programs within this category: Managed Salary and As-Need. Hours of preparations for a client family begin even before the client is accepted into either of the Financial Assistance programs: analysis of required financial documents, review and verification of financial need, evaluation of probable compliance to the program's principles and, finally, the creation of a unique-to-that-family path toward success. An extended initial meeting acquaints the new client family with the program, sets the family's goals, outlines their individual course of action and reviews in detail the family's financial assistance package. The family's first month in the program usually requires extended interaction hours so that both spouses, and even children when appropriate, are fully comfortable with and possess an understanding of the program. Throughout the course of a family's program, case workers, mental health professionals and health care professionals work in areas as needed. Additionally, staff members are available to assist clients with bookkeeping, financial planning, in finding appropriate and meaningful employment, computer-training, school supplies before the beginning of each year as well as planning appropriate simchas. The Managed Salary Program assists client families with critical living expenses, medical bills, approved invoices as well as a cash allowance for food and weekly incidentals. In 2018, the Managed Salary program assisted 29 families; by year's end, approximately 28% of these families either graduated out of the program or, with minimal assistance from Project Ezrah, managed on their own. The As-Need Program works with families who have graduated out of the Managed Salary Program and now need only minimal Project Ezrah assistance. Additionally, this program assists families who look to Project Ezrah for pre-approved, singular needs assistance, and/or pro-bono services. There were 88 additional families who received this type of financial aid in 2018; approximately 66% were also able to graduate out of the program by year's end (the 2018 Managed-Salary graduated families are not included in the 2018 As-Need families' percentage data).