It's easy to see need in the inner city. Just drive down one of those streets you hear about on the news. You'll see it. Substandard housing. Crime. Neglect and blight. People struggling to make ends meet. Potential unfulfilled.

It's harder to spot need in suburbia. Hunger and homelessness can live right next door. And while the house can be well kept and clean, the family may be right on the brink. That's why NeighborWorks^® New Horizons operates 89 affordable rental units in the suburbs.

These affordable homes, with set rents no more than 30% of their tenant families' income, make it possible for teachers aides, police and fire dispatch personnel, younger, entry level workers and single parent families to live in the towns where they work and serve.

Without these affordable units, many workers and families are "priced out" of the local rental market due to the high cost renting and maintaining an apartment. And families without access to affordable apartments often spend over half their monthly income on shelter alone.

This leaves little money for the other necessities and puts them in an even more precarious economic position.

Through a generous grant from the Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine Program funded by the United Way of Greater New Haven and The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, NeighborWorks^® New Horizons was able to establish a Rent Bank to help residents who have lost their jobs. The Rent Bank provides up to $500 towards the monthly rent, to the affected resident. It doesn't make them wealthy, but it gives them a little breathing room in this economy.

Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine Rent Bank recipient for May 2009 is someone like you. They live in your suburban town. Your kids go to school with their kids. And they needed help.

They were working two jobs. The children were working part time after school. Money was tight, but that's the way for most suburban families. Then the head of household lost her primary job.

There was a large drop in income and the children's income now went to things like the gas and electric bill rather than clothes and video games.

The household income was recertified, which reduced the rent, and we felt that due to the family's exceptional payment record, their record of participation and volunteerism for community projects they'd make an excellent candidate for the May Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine Rent Bank Program funded by the United Way of Greater New Haven and The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. 

The head of household is a person of few words, so we were surprised when a note came with the May rent.

"Thank you very much for the rental assistance, the money really helps, but not as much as just knowing I'm not alone and people are thinking of me."