Interfaith Community Services

Emergency Assistance - ICS provides financial assistance and short-term case management for individuals or families in emergency situations. The goal is to provide for acute basic needs that help clients in distress get back on their feet and take steps toward stability and independence. The types of assistance include: shelter, utilities, gas vouchers, and back-to-work expenses such as permits, IDs, and clothing vouchers. During 2022-23, ICS served over 3,195 households providing over $1.9 million in assistance. In partnership with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, ICS Food Banks and free produce giveaways distribute emergency food boxes each month to low-income seniors, individuals, and families in need. During 2022-23, ICS distributed 2.3 million pounds of food to 49,743 individuals.

Senior & Caregiving Services - ICS provides services which help seniors and disabled individuals to live independently in their own homes without the need for institutional care. ICS volunteers provide essential support services such as meal delivery, transportation for medical appointments and shopping, vaccine scheduling support, friendly phoning, friendly visiting, small home repairs, yard work, and business help. During 2022-23, ICS provided services to 920 seniors and disabled individuals. The mobile meals program provides delivery of fresh nutritious meals each weekday to physically challenged or convalescing adults who are unable to cook for themselves and are supplied on a sliding-scale-fee basis based on ability to pay. More than 60% of mobile meals recipients receive fully or partially subsidized meals. During 2022-23, ICS served 22,579 meals to 190 seniors and disabled individuals.

Self-Sufficiency Program - ICS self-sufficiency programs offer more than short-term help. These programs work with clients to build long-range solutions that take individuals and families from crisis to sustainability. The single mom scholars program assists low-income single mothers who are pursuing a college education, while providing wrap-around financial support for their children. ICS workforce development centers assist clients in their self-sufficiency goals through services, financial literacy, workshops, and professional development. Reset is a long-term support commitment with the goal of providing individuals and their families with guidance, crucial life skills, and support for 1-2 years. During 2022-23, ICS provided long-term services to 489 clients.

Community Engagement - ICS partners with many agencies and diverse faith communities in order to serve low-income, senior, and disabled individuals in the greater Tucson area. These partners are also essential points of contact for announcing volunteer opportunities since over 840 volunteers are integral to all programs. Volunteers are the community connection point for ICS, and the majority of the agency's direct services to clients are carried out by volunteers. ICS volunteers donated 62,669 hours of volunteer time during the year.

Centralized Intake - The Organization's Centralized Intake program acts as the single point of entry for all clients. Centralized Intake staff and volunteers make initial contact with prospective clients by phone, performing an intake screening to assess client needs. Once the intake screening is complete, Resource and Intake Specialists make referrals to all ICS programs for which the client is eligible, and meet additional needs by providing external referrals to resources within the community. ICS services for which Centralized Intake makes referrals include: rental or utility assistance, workforce development and job seeker services, food banks, self-sufficiency programs, mobile meals, transportation to medical appointments, and food box deliveries for older adults.

Community Health Outreach - ICS brings together health facilities, faith communities, and social services to enable individuals to lead healthier lives and help vulnerable individuals in our community stay healthy at home. The program includes a broad range of community-based health education and outreach programs to support well-being. The health educations workshops include mental health first aid, honoring our lives advanced care planning, compassionate care with healthy boundaries, and depression & anxiety in the elderly. During 2022-23, There were 467 workshop attendees.