Long before it was declared that “the U.S. economy is officially in a “recessionâ€, Breakthrough Urban Ministries made the decision to address the needs of the Garfield Park community. The organization was incorporated to serve the neighborhood as a response to the needs of street people seeking assistance. At first, the focus was on meeting the simple survival needs of homeless persons. Breakthrough’s operation began by serving a daily lunch in a small storefront room. More needs arose out of the community with no respect to resources and Breakthrough knew it had to respond.
The current state of our economy is a harsh reality to investors, employers and employees. Investors can’t invest in corporations, because corporations are not doing well due to low consumerism and consequently they have to lay off workers. Workers back off spending because hours of employment are cut or they are simply laid off; therefore the ability to make purchases and provide for family is minimized and so are profits for corporations. If consumers are not spending or not working companies are forced to raise prices or fold. This contributes to high unemployment- It’s a negative spiraling “domino effectâ€.
Today, in our challenged economy, the needs of residents in the community are rapidly increasing. Where service programs are being cut and organizations are decreasing their efforts to meet these types of needs, Breakthrough is strengthening its resolve to address the growing needs of the community.
Breakthrough’s decision to serve the East Garfield community was never contingent upon resources or the lack there of.
Breakthrough’s solution to this increased demand for programs and services is to maintain its position on offering more holistic services by building a state of the art FamilyPlex. The Breakthrough FamilyPlex will provide a safe place for youth and their families to grow together and have access to networks of support in a place where faith is nurtured and celebrated. Breakthrough’s current programs are able to serve over 300 youth, but many are turned away, due to lack of space. The FamilyPlex will help serve over 1,000 children and provide so much more.
Breakthrough Urban Ministries has determined that the youth of the East Garfield Park community deserves better than a community that is oppressed by poverty, homelessness, prostitution, unemployed parents, poor performing schools, disjointed family violence and hunger.
Why Launch a campaign in the Middle of a recession?
BECAUSE THE NEED IS HERE! THE NEED IS NOW!
