The bruises from the one-two economic punch of a pandemic followed by record inflation may be fading as price hikes gradually ease, but the local volunteers of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul report that the demand for their assistance — rent and utility support; food and clothing; medical care and more — is as urgent as ever.
“It could be double or triple” the previous number of monthly requests, reported Paul “Korky” Korkemaz, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Arlington Council. The Arlington Council encompasses 10 SVdP parish conferences, with almost 500 combined volunteer members.
“Between COVID, inflation and probably a host of other factors, we’ve seen a big increase,” Korkemaz said. “Rental assistance is number one … followed by a close second of food and utility assistance.”
He estimates that in 2022, the SVdP Arlington Council ultimately served more than 20,000 people, made at least 4,500 face-to-face visits, and delivered $2 million-plus in direct financial aid, goods and services.
“It’s unprecedented,” said Marietta Bernot, president of the 27-member Basilica of St. Mary Conference. “We’ve never been through anything like this.” From March 2020 to October 2022, Bernot’s conference added 1,000 new cases to their database, which includes the city of Alexandria.
Richard Chobot — president of the conference at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, whose 34 members serve six zip codes — shared a similar story. “Last year, we might be doing about $7,000 a month” in aid, said Chobot. “This year we’re probably doing on average about $14,000-$15,000 a month.” The Holy Spirit Conference recently received the “Best of Braddock” award in recognition of their efforts.
“Before COVID, we would get rent calls for in the hundreds of dollars,” Korkemaz recalled. “Couple hundred, three hundred, and they’re back to even with the landlord. Now we’re seeing them in the thousands,” he said.
While a temporary national eviction moratorium for unpaid rent was in effect during the pandemic, most blanket protections have expired. “A lot of these cases are being threatened by eviction or are in the eviction process,” Korkemaz noted. “So, you can feel the stress on the other side of the telephone, or the other side of the table.” The lack of rental income also impacted landlords; furthermore, they now encounter tenants who don’t understand they remain obligated to pay back rents.
The twin blow of COVID and inflation has edged many people already experiencing poverty closer to the brink of insolvency. Job loss, reduced hours and positions without benefits have all played a role.
“The working poor … they’re working, but they’re just barely making it. They live paycheck to paycheck,” said Bernot. “If something goes wrong — there’s a car expense, or there’s a medical expense — they can’t make their rent or they can’t pay their utilities. With COVID, they got behind. And in many, many cases that we’re seeing … they couldn’t climb out.”
“Go to the poor,” said St. Vincent de Paul, “There you will find God.” Founded in 1833 largely through the efforts of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, a French lawyer, the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — known as Vincentians — embrace both personal sanctification and service to the needy.
“What our job is, is to show the face of Christ to those we serve,” said Chobot. “But in doing that, we’re not only helping them, we’re helping ourselves.” Korkemaz observed that he finds Jesus in the poor. “It could be a woman; could be a kid; it could be an old man, an old woman,” he said. “I have to believe it’s Christ looking back at me.”
That personal relationship is essential.
“We just don’t talk to people and put them in a computer, and crank out a check,” said Korkemaz. Face-to-face meetings “allow us to see the holistic view of that family. Yes, they have a utility bill to pay — but maybe if I look in the corner, they don’t have a bed to sleep on, or maybe they don’t have enough food for their kids in the refrigerator.”
“What we’re giving them is not only monetary support when we can,” Chobot emphasized. “We’re giving them the dignity of a response.”
With 70 parishes and only 10 conferences, Korkemaz is always mindful of expansion — and encourages parishes without an SVdP conference to consider the commitment. More bilingual translators would also be a prized addition. “We’re always going to have to be able to support our brothers and sisters in a lower income bracket.” Korkemaz said. “It’s always going to be here.”
Heatherington is a freelancer in Alexandria.
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For more info, go to svdparlington.org.
