FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Assistance FAQs
I (OR SOMEONE I KNOW) IS HOMELESS BUT IS NOT PART OF A HOMELESS FAMILY. WHERE CAN I (OR THEY) OBTAIN ASSISTANCE?
Homelessness is certainly not constrained to families in Warren County. While FPWC is an access point for anyone who faces homelessness in our county, there are also other shelters nearby who can assist. Furthermore, Warren County is host to an entire array of Community Agencies who can assist during a hardship. For the entire list of shelters and Community Agencies, view the First Call for Help page published by Warren County.
I CURRENTLY HAVE NO CHILDREN, BUT I AM PREGNANT. I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. CAN FPWC ASSIST ME?
FPWC can take in pregnant women with no children, so long as they qualify for the program.
I AM FACING EVICTION. CAN FPWC HELP PREVENT ME FROM BECOMING HOMELESS?
In certain circumstances, FPWC can assist. Should you have a source of income that falls within the Homeless Crisis Response Program's guidelines, we may be able to assist you.
I AM HOMELESS, BUT DO NOT LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY. CAN FPWC ASSIST ME?
FPWC is only funded to support families from Warren County. However, FPWC can assist you in locating a shelter in your area if you are unable to do so.
Donate FAQs
I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE AN ITEM TO FPWC, HOWEVER I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THE ITEM IS WORTH. HOW CAN I DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO DEDUCT?
The IRS has published an article to assist donors in evaluating the worth of their non-cash donations. The publication can be viewed here. Please note that any soft-material good (eg clothing or furniture) that is not in gently used condition cannot be deducted on income taxes.
I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE HOUSEHOLD GOODS OR FURNITURE TO FPWC, BUT AM UNSURE IF THEY ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH CONDITION, OR IF THE ITEM IS OF ANY USE TO A FORMERLY HOMELESS FAMILY.
A good rule of thumb for evaluating a donation's usefulness is a simple question: Would you use this item in your own home? Items that are no longer being used because they are broken, torn, stained, heavily worn, or contain pet hair cannot be used by FPWC. Gently used items that are not excessive in size or weight are urgently needed by FPWC families.
DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING TO ASSIST FPWC FAMILIES.
HOW CAN I HELP?
FPWC assists all current and former (within one year) houseguests with holiday preparations. The planning for these events begins early in the fall. The traditional type of assistance is family gift sponsorship. Other types of special assistance may be available during the holiday season. Planning is normally done with plenty of advance; don't delay in contacting the FPWC office.
Volunteer FAQs
I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT HAVE A SPECIFIC TYPE OF WORK IN MIND. CAN I VOLUNTEER WITH FPWC?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question, but frequently the answer is yes. For example, if you are part of a school project who wishes to perform landscaping, FPWC welcomes your volunteerism (so long as sufficient advance notice is given, and the need is present). Other types of volunteerism cannot always be accommodated. For example, if you would like to babysit children on a specific day, the likelihood that a family needs babysitting at that moment is low, and family schedules frequently change. All inquiries for specific types of volunteering should be directed to Linda Rabolt, linda@ihnwc.org.
MY WORKPLACE IS ENCOURAGING TEAMS OF VOLUNTEERS TO SPEND A DAY VOLUNTEERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. CAN WE HELP AT FPWC?
With advance notice, volunteer workdays of many sizes can be organized. If your group wishes to work with FPWC, contact Linda Rabolt, linda@ihnwc.org with your information (eg: desired work date, team size, organizational representation).
