We must talk about poverty because people insulated by their own comfort lose sight of it. -Dorothy Day

Theory of Change

Suffering anywhere is suffering everywhere.

People are suffering now. “Fires are burning,” so to speak. Money can relieve immediate suffering. We must put out the flames in our backyard and then spread our wealth elsewhere.

Process

You venmo “philosophers” to get money to the needs. We get you in touch with a case manager who connects needs with your money.

Accountability

100% of funds relieve preventable suffering. No payment processing fees. No administration fees. Every direct action we do is published. The identity of recipients is hidden. Their suffering is not hidden. The world must know that suffering can be relieved. Fires can be extinguished.

Why not tackle larger, long-term, systemic problems?

Local Direct Giving extinguishes fires burning now.

Interventions

As of December 6, 2022 we will list needs, including a general bio, how the recipient is suffering, how we can relieve the suffering now, and how much it costs.

• $684.64 went to paying the electricity, phone, and water bills of a Bywater elder. She was about to lose her phone, power, and water due to delinquent bills. She has serious health problems. Her elderly mother is also in need but the payments did not go through on her accounts. This intervention was referred by a trusted caseworker.
• $1,697.99 to back energy bills, referred from a trusted caseworker. The statement of need they sent is as follows: “After Hurricane Ida, my kid's father was helping me pay backed-up bills. He died. I try to keep up but high electrical bills came and the water bill was already too high. I tried to wait for my SSI, but I was overwhelmed because of the money that I made to help with the light bill I had to put towards the rent and the water bill also now I cannot pay any of it it.”
• A mother and her children are living in their car this week. She was wrongfully evicted. Lawyers can’t get a court order that lets them back in their house until next week. A hotel room for a week is $1,059.00 The hotel is near the children’s school. This intervention was referred by a trusted caseworker.
• $2,787.64 paid the electricity bills of five families who are suffering now. A social worker at the Living School identified students who went without electricity for months or were in danger of falling into debt, which is very hard to get out of. Many of these students come from undocumented families or families with extreme hardships (ie- mental illness). This intervention was referred by a trusted caseworker.
• $250 is going to two elderly sisters trying to pay three months of taxes on their house. They have lived in the same house in the Bywater neighborhood for two generations. Now, as rich families move into the neighborhood and increase their property value, they cannot afford taxes. This intervention was referred by a trusted caseworker.

An additional $10,261.50 was spent on interventions without recording statements of need. As of December 27, 2022 we will require a statement of need for each intervention.

Get Involved

Email [email protected] to find out how you can get involved. 100% of donations go to interventions.