MEDIA RELEASE:

WORD FACES CEASING OPERATIONS AS NEEDS IN MISSOULA INCREASES

March 19, 2020 – Women’s Opportunity and Resource Development (WORD) has been a trusted lifeline for the most at-risk Missoula families for over 35 years. Yet, WORD is going through a critical time and needs the Missoula community’s help.

We recognize the Missoula community is experiencing a crisis of its own as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lost jobs, lost income and an uncertain future. Imagine what this means for a single mom already struggling to feed and house her family. Many Missoula families will not be able to keep their housing or access vital supportive services without WORD’s help. WORD is committed to providing critical services but cannot do so without emergency funding from the community.

WORD can help struggling families with rental support, supplies, resources, supportive services, and emotional support. Losing even a few days of work can jeopardize someone’s ability to pay their rent; it is safer and more cost effective to keep someone in their current home than it is to help them secure housing from a place of homelessness.

Over the last few years, WORD has lost state, federal, and private grants, leading to employee layoffs and dissolved programs. After many efforts to replace lost funding, WORD is still coming up short. To help Missoula’s most vulnerable families, WORD urgently needs to raise $30,000.

WORD accepts the responsibility of being a trusted resource and takes pride in helping Missoula families find solutions to their housing challenges. Without community help, WORD is unable to maintain these vital, potentially life-saving services.

Please consider supporting WORD’s efforts by clicking here to make a donation. Thank you, Missoula. Be well.

For more information, contact Jennie Vader at jvader@wordinc.org or visit www.wordinc.org.

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