For 135 years and counting, area business leaders have said, “Yes,” to helping their neighbors in need and, in so doing, have changed the course of history.
In December 1888, Rev. Dr. Napthali Luccock, pastor at First Methodist Episcopal Church in Erie and six others — clergy and laity — were the first to say, “Yes!” These early Erie-ites, pillars of the community, gathered and together laid down in by-laws and a constitution, a new organization — an alliance of churches committed to: extending, as much as possible, the area and efficiency of existing churches, to provide for the care of those in need. The Methodist Episcopal Alliance of Erie was formed.
Support from Business Community
Today, through corporate sponsorship, individual investment and employee volunteering — public and private partnerships — EUMA (Erie United Methodist Alliance, Inc.) is ending homelessness by making it rare, brief and one-time as Jesus would, in Erie and now in Crawford County
as well.
Last year alone, 23 business leaders said, “Yes,” to a EUMA corporate sponsorship.
Businesses not only enjoy tax benefits and increased brand awareness, but also increase employee satisfaction by providing them with a way to get involved through their time, talent and treasure that works to end homelessness in their hometown.
Making an Impact
Because the business community said, “Yes,” EUMA is making homelessness rare by keeping youth aging out of foster care, out of the homeless system, out of jail, with their children and on a path to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. By saying, “Yes,” EUMA is making homelessness brief by decreasing the length of time our neighbors are unhoused. EUMA helps single Moms and Dads — most living with a severe mental illness, substance use disorder and justice involvement — find a permanent home of their own, secure and keep a job and restore hope in a brighter tomorrow.
By saying, “Yes,” EUMA is making homelessness one-time by wrapping the household with the community supports they need to end their homelessness, forever.
With 38 units of temporary and permanent housing under management in Erie and Crawford Counties, EUMA is committed to acquiring, rehabilitating and dedicating units for our at-risk neighbors and for those who have experienced a housing crisis. In EUMA’s largest units, onsite resident assistants provide support to tenants to remain permanently housed by connecting them to community resources.
Working to integrate permanent housing and health care, expand permanent affordable and supportive housing in cities and in rural communities and recruiting, training and supporting new employees who have experienced a housing crisis, are in recovery, are living with mental illness and have had justice involvement — these are just a few ways the EUMA of today is changing lives.
A “Yes” to EUMA also helps:
- shelter homeless veterans.
- welcome neighbors with severe mental illness in out of the cold.
- keep youth out of the homeless system.
- support single Moms and single Dads on the pathway to finding a permanent home.
- acquire and rehabilitates permanent, affordable and supportive housing for our neighbors in greatest need.
Today, a single Mom and her five children who fled domestic violence are sleeping in a bed of their own, celebrating Christmas around a tree they decorated, are eating food at their table, all, in their own apartment.
A single veteran Dad and his son are permanently housed in an EUMA apartment. Dad is an EUMA employee and according to his Christmas shirt gifted to him by his son: “Dad of the Year!”
And today, a young woman who aged out of foster care and was asked to leave soon after she turned 18, is safe, supported, enrolled in a trade school and on a pathway to living her best life — all thanks to the business community saying, “Yes!”
Headquarters:
728 West 9th Street
Erie, PA 16502
Phone: 814/456-8073
Website: EUMA-Erie.org
