LEAVEN was created in 1987 to bring religious and secular social service agencies together to address the basic needs of people in our community by providing them with emergency assistance and critical referrals to other resources. As a centralized agency, LEAVEN is a clearinghouse, ensuring the non-duplication of services and reducing the fraudulent use of charity. Since its inception, LEAVEN has addressed the financial requests of nearly 140,000 households, providing over $14 million in direct client assistance and countless referrals to help with basic necessities like housing, utilities, transportation, health insurance, food and diapers. In 2018, we expanded our building, broadened our mission, and increased our impact. The LEAVEN Community Resource Center incorporates an innovative service delivery model, ensuring our ability to address client challenges in a more comprehensive and systemic way.

LEAVEN (Limited Emergency Assistance Valley Ecumenical Network) is a volunteer, community-based nonprofit organization that has pursued its mission of care and service since 1987. No one is immune from financial emergencies, but not everyone has the resources to weather a crisis. Individuals and families need support and assistance when they are in a financial crisis to prevent them from slipping into greater poverty, homelessness, and ill health. LEAVEN helps stabilize and empower these vulnerable households by providing financial assistance, referrals, and case management to address their near-term and long-term basic needs. Assistance is provided for housing, utilities, transportation, health insurance, diapers and other basic necessities. LEAVEN’s help is typically immediate, short-term and emergency based. The LEAVEN Community Resource Center, opened it 2018, removes barriers and creates opportunities for our clients to connect with fifteen partner organizations. By integrating services under one roof, we continue to meet our clients’ immediate needs AND work to promote long-term stability.