Growing Number of Students & Families Seeking Assistance
SAFE Fund Provides Needed Services & Support
Boise, ID -- 05/26/2020 -- An increasing number of Boise School District students and families are reaching out for help during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a public health crisis has now become a financial crisis felt by families, as they try to put food on the table, pay rent or pay utilities. Families who never sought public assistance before are calling the District’s SAFE hotline - a service that connects students and families with needed services and support.
Launched on March 30, 2020, the SAFE hotline is staffed by Boise Schools social workers and counselors. Families can call in with requests for needs and will have a response and a plan within 48 hours. Over the last six weeks, the SAFE hotline has been able to help over 2,100 Boise Schools students and their family members with basic needs assistance, representing 41 different schools and a total of 489 District families.
“Our first focus is on providing immediate support for food, pharmacy and laundry needs for families,” explained Jennifer Henderson, executive director, Boise Public Schools Education Foundation. “In addition to community food pantries, we are offering electronic and physical gift cards to families for groceries, hygiene and pharmacy needs. We are also working with several laundromats to pay for laundry services for families. Since mid-April we have also been providing rental, internet and utility supports for families.”