"He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God."

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

PURPOSE, PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES

The F.A.I.T.H. Fund is funded and administered by Regent University employees for the purpose of ministering to Regent University employees who experience a bonafide need for emergency assistance. The committee is composed of six (6) members plus the coordinator. The coordinator will serve as chair and appoint a co-chair from the committee. Term of office will be January 1 - December 31 for a period of three (3) years. Each year two (2) new members will be appointed so that every three (3) years there will be a complete turnover of committee membership. The coordinator may appoint an employee to fill any vacancy on the committee for the remaining unexpired term.

1. Food
2. Shelter: this includes possible eviction from present housing; in extreme cases, assistance on initial security deposit; rent aid on housing when legitimately unable to make it on own; to aid in case of disaster.
3. Transportation: to aid in costly repairs only when car is necessary to continue employment (i.e., accident, fire or theft aid); aid not to include car payments, insurance premiums, taxes or normal maintenance and repair charges.
4. Utilities: to prevent utilities being disconnected during an emergency situation. (Phone bills are not considered a utility).
5. Fuel: to aid in emergency situations to provide fuel for heat or cooking or heating of water.
6. Deaths: to aid in expenses surrounding the death of immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, children, legal guardian, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister).
7. Medical: to aid employee in a medical emergency not reimbursable by insurance or where insurance coverage does not apply. Normal health maintenance expenses are not eligible.
   

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE EMPLOYEE

1. An employee is eligible for an emergency assistance grant after having been employed for at least three consecutive months in a regular, full-time or part-time status. Exceptions must be of an unusual nature and fully justified.
2. Assistance for bonafide emergencies will be limited to a minimum of six (6) months apart.
3. A maximum of four grants will be allowed to any one person, or family unit, during any two (2) year period. Exceptions of a highly unusual nature will be considered by the committee.
4. The maximum amount available per employee, or family unit, is not to exceed $600 per request. Maximum amount available during any two (2) year period is not to exceed $1,800.
5. Employees who receive assistance may be scheduled for budget counseling. Failure to attend budget counseling, when it is recommended, will preclude the approval of future applications for assistance.
6. To request assistance, the "Request for Emergency Assistance" form, available in the Human Resource Department, is to be filled out completely and in detail by the employee and forwarded to a MEMBER of the Emergency Assistance Committee.

Food Assistance Request Form

F.A.I.T.H. Fund Application

PROCEDURES FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBER TO FOLLOW

A.  The applicant may obtain a F.A.I.T.H. Fund application online, from a committee

     member, or from Human Resources.

B.  The employee applying for F.A.I.T.H. Fund assistance returns the application to a

     member of the committee or to Human Resources.

C.  Committee members receiving information from the application approves or

     disapproves request based on the following:

          1.  F.A.I.T.H. Fund co-chairs will determine if the applicant qualifies for

               consideration. Previous dates and amount of assistance are to be noted

               on the application.

          2.  The nature of the EMERGENCY.

          3.  The amount of funds requested by the employee.

          4.  The availability of funds from the F.A.I.T.H. Fund.

D.  If the request is less than $200 two approvals are sufficient. This applies to the

     Food Certificate request as well.

E.  If the request is over $200 three approvals are necessary.

F.  If the committee members do not unanimously agree to approve or disapprove

     the request, the committee co-chairs will request a meeting of the full committee

     to discuss the request and agree on the disposition of the case.

G.  The paperwork becomes the property of the F.A.I.T.H. Fund co-chairs.

          1.  A file is kept on each employee requesting assistance.

          2.  The F.A.I.T.H. Fund co-chairs prepare checks to appropriate

               businesses and/or persons.  The applicant’s name is never on the check

               request.

          3.  The F.A.I.T.H. Fund co-chairs notify the applicant of the outcome of the

               application and, when appropriate, arranges for the applicant to pick up

               the check(s) at Human Resources.

          4.  The F.A.I.T.H. Fund co-chairs will provide all necessary financial reports

               and updates to the committee.

H.  Requests for emergency assistance will be considered on the basis of what is

     clearly recognized as a bona fide emergency, in the following categories:

          1.  Food

          2.  Shelter: this includes possible eviction from present housing; in extreme

               cases, assistance on initial security deposit; rent aid on housing when

               legitimately unable to make it on own; to aid in case of disaster.

          3.  Utilities: to prevent utilities from being disconnected during an emergency

               situation. (Phone bills are not considered a utility.)

          4.  Fuel: to aid in emergency situations to provide fuel for heat, cooking, or

               heating of water.

          5.  Transportation: to aid in costly repairs only when car is necessary to

               continue employment (i.e., accident, fire or theft aid); aid not to include

               car payments, insurance premiums, taxes or normal maintenance

               and repair charges.

          6.  Deaths: to aid in expenses surrounding the death of immediate family

               member (Spouse, mother, father, children, legal guardian, mother-in-law,

               father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister.)

          7.  Medical: to aid employee in a medical emergency not reimbursable by

               insurance or where insurance coverage does not apply. Normal health

               maintenance expenses are not eligible.

     Proper documentation will be required. Appropriate documentation includes

     eviction/foreclosure notice, utility cut-off notice, medical bill, etc.

J.  Committee members shall consider each request separately.

K.  Committee members and Human Resources will handle each request with the

     highest level of confidentially.

January 20, 1997
(Updated 9/30/2009)