FORT WORTH -- When Eunese Bracken's teen-age daughter became pregnant, the 47-year-old east Fort Worth resident decided it was time to not only prepare the teen for the responsibilities ahead, but also to take a fresh look at her own life.
"The finances changed in the household," Bracken said. "I had done child care and customer service jobs, working for myself most of the time, but I wanted to enter the work force. I wanted a job with health insurance."Bracken didn't have enough money to take computer courses at a commercial school to learn how to use Microsoft Excel and other programs that would make her a better job candidate. So she turned to Catholic Charities Fort Worth, an agency that has become one of the leading providers of services for the needy in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.Catholic Charities now provides more than three dozen services, including utility bill assistance, financial counseling, English and parenting classes, and help for refugees. The agency, with a $19.1 million annual budget, served 124,096 people last year, compared to about 50,000 people nine years ago.The agency's efforts got a big boost Monday when it unveiled its newest tool -- a shiny, new customized bus dubbed the "mobile unit" -- that will be used to expand service such as financial counseling and English classes far outside the city or as an outreach to the homeless living in shadows along city streets.The bus, which cost about $200,000, was paid for by a donation from Atmos Energy. John Paris, president of Atmos' Mid-Tex division, also presented Catholic Charities with a check for $25,000, and he asked the agency to use the funds to help needy people pay their gas bills."We're talking about families that can't even find the money to fuel a car, or take a bus to Fort Worth to apply for a job," Paris said.Mobile officeOn the outside, the bus looks much like an ordinary touring coach, except with a bright purple paint job, a Catholic Charities logo and a motto: "Our innovative services are now in motion."Inside, it looks more like a book mobile or blood donation vehicle. It has desk space and will serve as a mobile office, where agency workers and clients can sit at a table and discuss topics such as how to apply for a job. There also is space in the bus for children to stay occupied with games.Catholic Charities does much of its work at a campus south of West Seminary Drive, but the new bus will make it possible to reach thousands in a 28-county region of mostly rural enclaves, stretching roughly between Wichita Falls and Abilene."They'll be reaching out to a whole new demographic," said U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, one of several dignitaries to speak before the unveiling of the bus.The bus will also help agency workers reach out to Fort Worth's homeless population -- estimated at more than 2,000 people -- who avoid living in shelters.The agency has taken several other steps this year to spread its influence.In September, Catholic Charities took over transportation services for the needy from the American Red Cross in the Fort Worth area, including Northeast Tarrant County. About 5,100 rides per month are provided for people who need help getting to medical appointments, job interviews and other destinations.Bracken regularly uses one of those shuttles to get from her home in the Woodhaven area to the computer classes. She was able to sign up for a job placement course for only $10, a token payment required of participants to ensure that they're serious about attending every class, Monday through Thursday for eight weeks.Poverty in TexasTexas has the seventh-highest poverty rate in the United States, and 14 percent of Tarrant County residents live in poverty, Catholic Charities officials said.Texas also has a higher percentage of poor residents than the U.S. as a whole, according to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an Austin group. In Texas, 4.4 million people, or 17.9 percent of the population, meet the federal definition of living in poverty, and that compares to 46.2 million people, or 15.3 percent of the population, nationwide."The people we serve want a way out of poverty," said Mary Goosens, Catholic Charities vice president and chief financial officer.For those unfamiliar with Catholic Charities' work, workers sometimes have to explain that the services are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of religious affiliation, said spokeswoman Katelin Cortney."You don't have to be Catholic," she said.Several Fort Worth-area officials credited Catholic Charities' chief executive, Heather Reynolds, with providing a spark of energy to expand its services. Reynolds, 32, is adopting a baby and did not attend Monday's news conference, an agency official said.Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796Twitter: @gdicksonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
