Boost program offers bridge for those in need
By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on February 8, 2025.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com
A program designed to provide a financial boost to individuals and families experiencing immediate financial hardship with nowhere to turn, has received a cash infusion.
The United Way Lethbridge and South Western Alberta recently received a $50,000 donation from Enmax to fund the Boost program, which aims to bridge financial gaps caused by an increase in the cost of living and to help people avoid or deal with debt.
Jaci Zalesak, executive director of United Way Lethbridge says many individuals in southern Alberta struggle to make ends meet and cannot afford rent, groceries or personal hygiene items.
“This is a new funding that has come from Enmax and it’s to support individuals and families who are in crisis,” says Zalesak. “To help with funding for utilities that are in the process of being disconnected or rent for people who are going to be facing eviction.”
She says that while those two areas are their focus, supports are also available for transportation, to help low-income individuals and families access Lethbridge Transit.
“Also, for shopping for food items to help with dietary restrictions that may not be available at food banks, since the cost of that food sometimes is high,” says Zalesak.
Some help is also provided for individuals needing to access hygiene products.
Zalesak explains that the Boost Program started thanks to the Enmax’s donation and they are now looking for other ways to raise funds through donations, so they can continue to help those in immediate financial crisis.
“This is a $50,000 fund from Enmax and we’re hoping that we will see others being able to contribute to our Boost Program, because there’s such a demand for people that are in crisis right now,” says Zalesak.
She opes to be able to keep the program going once the funds are depleted and is asking the community for help.
“We’re hoping to be able to renew the program obviously, but once funding is gone, it’s unfortunately gone. So, we are hoping to either renew the program with Enmax or find other supporters that will be able to continue this program.”
She says they have been able to help multiple people already, but the demand continues to increase.
“We did a soft launch in December, at the end of January we announced the funding and before we even went to the media, we just did social media and word of mouth and it is spreading like crazy,” says Zalesak.
The United Way has received calls from people using the local food banks, as well as those accessing the 211 help line for social services.
“People know about the program and now more are hearing more about it, so the demand continues to increase,” says Zalesak.
The goal is to divert people from entering shelters, especially during this time of year when it is extremely cold.
“For people who are on the regulator (utility rate) right now, between the month of October and April people won’t get their utilities cutoff,” says Zalesak. “But they’ll be certainly put on the regulator, which is very minimal amounts of electricity and gas and it’s just very cold.”
She says once people get put in a utilities’ regulator, their chances to “catch up” on their already established debt with the utility’s companies, decrease exponentially.
“So, this is an opportunity for people to get a little bit of a boost and help recover from something like this. We’re here to ensure that people aren’t entering further and deeper into poverty.”
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