NORWICH – Even with some claims of a slowly stabilizing economy, the need for food and housing assistance for many county residents is still a prevalent issue.

Roots and Wings of Chenango County is working to address these issues and setting new goals this year in an effort to better serve those who need assistance the most.

According to a 2010 U.S. census, nearly 14 percent of the Chenango County population is at or below the poverty rate. Gary Quarella, director of community outreach programs at Catholic Charities, said Roots and Wings, a subdivision of Catholic Charities, is working to better the lives of this population with three goals in mind: stabilizing money for its homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing program; enhancing its job skills programming; and keeping up its nutrition outreach education program.

“Our goal is that each family we serve here will eventually enter a less vulnerable state,” said Quarella, noting the organization’s mission of offering a hand up, not a hand out.

Roots and Wings has certainly made a difference in the community. In 2011, the charity’s food security programs provided assistance to nearly 4,800 families. Also, more than 150 people took part in job skills training, 97 of whom did on-site volunteer work at Roots and Wings – and of those, 25 gained full employment and are now off cash assistance.