NCC

Emergency Relief Policy

1. PURPOSE

The Emergency Relief Fund exists to provide short-term financial assistance to individuals or families experiencing urgent and unexpected crises. This fund is designed to meet immediate needs, not to provide ongoing or long-term financial support.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

2. DEFINITION OF AN EMERGENCY

An emergency is defined as a situation that is:

• Unexpected – Not planned or ongoing
• Urgent – Requires action within 3–7 days
• Essential – Impacts basic needs (housing, utilities, health, safety)
• Destabilizing – Without intervention, serious harm or loss may occur

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

3. QUALIFYING SITUATIONS

Examples of qualifying emergencies include:

• Eviction notice or imminent loss of housing
• Utility shutoff notice
• Medical emergencies or urgent prescriptions
• Crisis due to sudden job loss, accident, or unforeseen hardship
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

4. NON-QUALIFYING SITUATIONS

The Emergency Relief Fund does not cover:

• Ongoing financial struggles or chronic budget shortfalls
• Debt repayment (credit cards, personal loans, etc.)
• Lifestyle maintenance (rent or expenses consistently unaffordable)
• Non-essential expenses (subscriptions, discretionary spending)
• Situations that could have been reasonably planned for

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

5. CORE PRINCIPLES

• Emergency, not sustainability – This fund addresses immediate crises only
• Shared responsibility – Applicants are expected to contribute when reasonably able
• Stewardship – Funds are distributed with wisdom and accountability
• Dignity – Assistance is given in a way that empowers, not enables

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

6. APPLICATION PROCESS

All requests must be submitted through the church’s Emergency Relief Application Portal.

Applicants will be required to:

• Clearly describe the emergency
• Provide documentation (if applicable)
• Outline steps already taken to resolve the situation
• Disclose income and essential expenses
• Indicate willingness to receive pastoral care or guidance

Incomplete applications may delay or disqualify requests.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

7. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Each application will be reviewed based on:

• Urgency (timeline within 3–7 days)
• Nature of the need (essential vs non-essential)
• Applicant’s efforts to resolve the issue
• Availability of other support systems
• Whether the need is one-time or part of an ongoing pattern

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

8. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Applicants may receive one of the following outcomes:

A. Approved (Full Assistance)
One-time financial support for qualifying emergencies

B. Partial Assistance
Church contributes alongside the applicant or other sources

C. Redirected Support
If the request is not an emergency, the applicant may be referred to:

• Budget coaching
• Counseling or pastoral care
• Employment or resource assistance
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

9. DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

• Payments are made directly to vendors/service providers whenever possible
• Cash payments are generally not provided
• Assistance is typically one-time per crisis
• Repeat requests may require additional review or may be declined

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

10. PASTORAL CONNECTION

Whenever possible, applicants will be encouraged to connect with a pastor, leader, or care team member for ongoing support beyond financial assistance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

11. POLICY AUTHORITY

All decisions are made in accordance with this policy.

This ensures consistency, fairness, and removes personal bias from the decision-making process.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

“Our goal is to respond with compassion and wisdom — meeting urgent needs

while helping individuals move toward stability.”