As the year ends, you may reflect back on the ways you’ve had to adjust your lifestyle because of inflation. You may have stopped eating out, sold items online, or skipped vacations.

For many Cuyahoga County residents, such lifestyle changes aren’t enough. Senior citizens on fixed incomes are struggling to afford rising property taxes and utilities. Single parents don’t have margin in their budgets to cover the rising costs of groceries and rent, despite working full time.

We are so grateful to those donors and partner organizations who have supported the mission of Love INC in 2024. Your continued generosity blesses those most in need with hope, healing, and practical help.

However, your support can do more than cover the costs of essentials. Your contribution has the power to transform lives!

With your help, we can care for the needs of our neighbors and COVER THE COUNTY with the love of Christ.

He will cover you with his feathers;
you will take refuge under his wings.
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

Psalm 91:4, CSB

We’d like to show some of the needs of neighbors may be facing with stories of our real clients.

Destiny is a single mom of two children and works a good full-time job as a home health aid. She was sharing household expenses with the father of her children, when he suddenly left.

Knowing she couldn’t cover such high expenses herself, on top of an unexpected car repair, she chose to move to a cheaper apartment.

Because she had to cover rent for two units for a month, Destiny contacted Love INC for assistance. We were able to pay a portion of her rent and provide her with budget coaching. Destiny discovered areas where she was overspending. She is eager to work with Love INC to make a financial plan she can manage.

Patricia is a senior citizen on a fixed income. She has lived in her apartment for more than ten years. Her landlord recently increased her rent by $100/month because of inflation’s impact on his costs. This change put a great strain on Patricia’s budget. With the increase, rent and utilities was 88% of her monthly income. This left her with little to cover groceries, phone and internet, or unexpected expenses.

Love INC was able to pay a portion of Patricia’s rent and provided her with referrals for subsidized housing.

“I don’t know what I would have done without your help. Thank you very much!”

Eric was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Shortly after, he was laid off. He has been applying for jobs, but has yet to receive an offer or unemployment. As a single dad, Eric has always been short on money, but now he has many medical bills. With all these challenges, he had a hard time affording his mortgage and reached out to Love INC.

With the assistance of a grant, Love INC helped pay his mortgage together with a local church.

“God is so good! Thank you all for having godly hearts. This helps take some burden off of me this month while I’m not receiving an income.”

The Cost of Inflation

Over the past five years, prices in Ohio have risen 22.7% overall. You may have had to adjust your budget to cover the rising costs of essentials — from housing to childcare to food. However, many of our neighbors don’t have the margin to make ends meet.

Let’s take a look at some of the essentials impacted by inflation.

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Rent

Average rent in Cleveland costs $1,447/month. Rent in the city has increased by 7.2%, from July 2023 to July 2024, earning Cleveland one of the fastest rent price hikes in the U.S., second only to Hartford, Connecticut.

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Groceries

Grocery prices rose 21.1% from 2021 to 2023, well above the overall inflation rate of 17.3% during the same period.

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Childcare

In Ohio, childcare for an infant costs $9,697 annually, consuming 16.9% of the median family’s income — more than double the “affordable” threshold of 7%.

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Automobile Insurance

Auto insurance rates increased by 19.5% nationwide from July 2023 to July 2024.

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Utilities

The cost of utilities, including electricity and gas, has increased 3.3% from September 2023 to September 2024.

Your gift helps prevent evictions, keep electricity connected, feed the hungry, provide budget coaching, and so much more. Together we can care for the needs of our neighbors and COVER THE COUNTY with the love of Christ.