CITY OF ARLINGTON | Grants Management Annual Report 2024 63
EnVision Center : Impacting the Community and Changing Lives
The EnVision Center exists to empower City of Arlington individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and growth through collaboration with numerous organizations including non-profits , City departments , faith-based organizations , institutions of learning and other state and federal partners . The EnVision Center aims to connect families with resources for these four important pillars : Economic Empowerment , Educational Advancement , Health and Wellness , Character and Leadership .
Mr . S
Mr . S is a 44-year-old single man who contacted Arlington Urban Ministries ( AUM ) in late February 2023 , for rental assistance . He had fallen behind on his rent due to his health . In September 2021 , he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer . This news was devastating for Mr . S . Shortly after his diagnosis , he began the long and grueling radiation and chemotherapy treatments . Due to his demanding therapies , he was weak and unable to work and began utilizing the long-term disability he had paid for during his employment , but his disability income was significantly less that what he had earned while working . When he came to AUM for rent assistance , he was depressed and anxious about making ends meet while continuing to undergo cancer care .
Mr . S . was employed at Cummins , Inc ., where he earned $ 23 an hour as a full-time Customer Parts Advocate and enjoyed his work . Now he found himself unable to work and making less than 20 percent of his previous income , only
$ 697 a month . He had exhausted his savings trying to keep current with his rent , utilities , and other bills . His rent was $ 1,114 per month , his average electric bill was $ 313 and car insurance was $ 100 per a month ( and critical to drive to his medical appointments ).
He had few resources left for food , which was important to his recuperation . Mr . S had received limited Texas Rent Relief during the pandemic , but that has long since been discontinued . He had been making partial payments on his rent and utilities to avoid eviction but had come to the end of his resources and was desperate .
He met the requirements of the City of Arlington ESG program funding , and AUM was able to help the client using ESG resources and the required AUM agency matching funds to assist him with his rent . In addition , AUM connected him with Arlington Charities for food resources and financial literacy classes . Mr . S , returned to work in March 2023 with a clean bill of health .