SERVICES: Through the Emergency Housing & Utility Assistance Program, the Association can make one rent, mortgage or utility bill payment to keep families safely housed and prevent homelessness. The program serves low- to moderate-income working families that can normally afford their monthly bills, but have had an emergency situation such as illness, loss of hours at work, natural disasters, acts
of God, etc. and need one-time safety net support. We assist under-served populations with an emphasis on families with children under age 12. HISTORY: Originally incorporated as the Joplin Provident Association on January 4, 1905, Regional Health and Welfare Association has helped families in emergency situations for more than 115 years. The Association was a founding member of the Community Chest in 1955, which is grown to become the United Way of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. Early Joplin business leaders who petitioned for The Association's incorporation were Peter A. Christman, president, M.J. Byrne, vice president, J.B. Gregg, secretary, and Julius A. Becker, treasurer. The new organization’s purposes was “to look after the interests of the poor of the City of Joplin and vicinity: [sic] to provide them with suitable employment, when expedient, and otherwise to aid them in such ways as shall be deemed most judicious: and to provide, establish, maintain and carryon [sic] a training school for miners.”
Over the years, the Association’s attention was repeatedly drawn to how it could best serve Joplin residents with emergency assistance. Accounts with supermarkets helped address food insecurity and represented a large share of the relief provided. Clothing, medical and dental care, utilities, and rent were provided, especially for indigent adults and children in foster care. The Association benefitted thousands of orphans, widows, injured miners, and families whose homes were lost to fires. From its earliest days the Association worked with the schools to identify children who needed books, clothing and shoes.
