VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP
I want to thank Waynedale for the great reception you gave my staff and me at the Memorial Day Parade. I was excited to be able to meet so many of you and to have the opportunity to thank the veterans for their service to our Country. All the people and all the flags, both in the parade and along the parade route, showed the great pride all of us have in our Country.
Our most important mission at the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office is to help those who are in need. We offer emergency assistance to people who for whatever reason are temporarily unable to provide the basic necessities of life for themselves.
In doing so, we always are cognizant of our responsibility as guardian of the taxpayer’s money. Our investigators collect information from each assistance applicant to determine whether he or she is eligible for Township Assistance for that particular month.
To be eligible for Township Assistance, a client’s household must be below the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that means the household income must be below $1,721 for the month.
Indiana law strictly controls the type of assistance we can offer to clients and the determination of who is eligible to receive that assistance. Among the emergency assistance we can offer is help to pay for medicine, shelter, transportation to seek employment, utilities and food for those in need.
One of the biggest needs in Wayne Township is assistance for clients who cannot afford to obtain the medicine they need for their health problems, according to SuzAnne Runge, our Director of Intake and Investigations. “Clients with health problems often are off work and do not have the resources to pay for their medications,” Ms. Runge said.
“For those who need help with housing, we issue a voucher to their landlord or mortgage company to cover their rent or mortgage for the month,” Ms. Runge explained. We help with transportation by issuing bus passes to clients who need transportation to seek or maintain employment.
For food or paper products, we refer clients to food banks or issue a food voucher if the food bank cannot meet the client’s needs. Wayne Township has an Associated Churches food bank in our building for the convenience of those who need help obtaining food or paper products.
As I explained in a previous column, clients able to work are required to participate in our employment program or our workfare program. Workfare participants are assigned to work a certain number of hours a week at Wayne Township, other governmental entities or non-profit agencies.
Our Wayne Township Fishing Derby is just a few days away now. The Derby will begin at 7 a.m. on June 23 at the lake at Concordia Theological Seminary. We like to sponsor this Derby because it is fun for everyone, but especially fun for children. And, prizes are given too. Please join us at the Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 23.
Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.
Wayne Township Trustee
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