Community Level Best Practices

The Condition in which low-income People Lives are Improves (Category 2)

Helping Low-Income People Own a stake in Their Community (Category 3)

The Condition in which low-income People Lives are Improves (Category 2)

BEST PRACTICE 2007
GMN Tri-County CAC

Broadband Project
GMN Tri County CAC, Inc. created a unique wireless Broadband project to help move the residents of Monroe County onto the information superhighway of the 21st century. Monroe County is a rural, remote Appalachian county, with no advanced technology due to limited resources.
The Broadband project helps to improve the quality of life for the residents and help bring economic prosperity to this area. This project was the first federal Broadband grant in the nation to be awarded to a Community Action Agency! It can be replicated. We have always encouraged the concept for Community Action entities to branch out into Broadband Wireless where it seems a natural fit to those we serve!

GMN Tri-County CAC
Gary W. Ricer, Executive Director
740-732-2388

BEST PRACTICE 2007
Lifeline, Inc.

Security Deposit Assistance
The Financial Literacy Program is a collaborative effort between National Cooperative Bank (NCB) and Highland County Community Action to address the need for a financial literacy program to assist residents in wisely managing their limited financial resources. This is the only program being offered in the county in this area. In its 2nd full year of operation, the program has provided over 7 financial literacy workshops and numerous individual counseling sessions to over 60 unduplicated residents which is more than 400% of the original goal. By year end, ten of these individuals will have followed a budget for three months.

Lifeline, Inc.
Carrie Dotson, Executive Director
440-354-2148

Honorable Mention 2004
Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area

Home Weatherization Assistance Program
was concerned with the rising utility costs. A collaboration of three funding sources, The Dayton Power and Light Company, electric based; Vectren, a gas utility provider; and, the Community Action Weatherization program joined forces in their service area. With this combination of private and public resources many additional households in the service area now benefit from the quality home Weatherization service that has traditionally benefited only persons below 150% of the federal poverty level. The regular Weatherization program allowed for Weatherization of 630 homes. With this partnership the CAP is able to weatherize an additional 475 units.

Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area
Tim Donnellan, Executive Director
(937) 341-5000

Helping Low-Income People Own a stake in Their Community (Category 3)

BEST PRACTICE 2007
WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.

The Corps Network: Rural Response & Civic Justice Program
WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. became involved with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp located in its service area when former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, in 2002, eliminated financial support for all CCC camps in the state. About 40 residential and non-residential campers enrolled at the Barney Quilter CCC Camp participated in job training, employment skills and life skills among other services, were displaced, some with no other home.
Advocacy efforts brought an allocation of $750,000 from the Governor’s discretionary funds for the camp and an agreement with Ohio Department of Natural Resources to sign over the camp’s operations to WSOS. That agreement included the operation of a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Sign shop and a recycling facility. In 2003, the camp re-opened under the auspices of WSOS, alternative funding was sought to maintain the program and structural changes made have benefited participants.
Successes include a 100% GED attainment rate, 81 percent job placement and 90% of those who start the program complete it. In addition, 85 WSOS Quilter CCC Camp participants have provided 72,796 hours of labor to more than 10 different worksites meeting direct needs of residents in Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca Counties with an estimated service value of $1,366,380. The program brought new federal dollars to meet the rural needs in the amount of $679,260 over a 3 year period and $158,360 for the upcoming year.

WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.
Neil McCabe, Executive Director
419-332-2028

BEST PRACTICE 2004
Community Action Agency of Columbiana County

Homebuyers Program
was developed in response to a need to assist people of limited income with finding and purchasing a home. A program of down payment assistance and homebuyer counseling was initiated to assure that residents would reside in safe affordable housing. The one on one homeownership counseling, provided to over 100 household annually, allows the prospective homebuyer access to financial resources, understanding of the loan process, inspection of property purchased and the responsibilities of being a homeowner. This personal service guides the homebuyer through the entire process and helps to assure that the homebuyer get safe, affordable housing for their families.

Community Action Agency of Columbiana County
Carol Bretz, Executive Director
(330) 424-7221

BEST PRACTICE 2004
Lima Allen Council on Community Affairs

Homeownership Project
was developed to meet two primary housing needs: to reduce the number of rental properties and increase the number of first time homeowners living at 80% of the median income. LACCA administers the Allen-Lima Down payment assistance program and contributes to the First Home Lima programs by providing training to low to moderate-income residents on family budgeting and purchasing a home. By completing the program, a participant may receive up to $3,000 in IDA credits to be used for a down payment and closing costs. A total of 244 homes, valued at $11,832,530 real state sales value have been purchased with assistance of AL-DAP or First Home Lima. Twenty seven additional homes valued at $1,380,400 real estate sales value were purchased through homeownership classes offered to customers of local financial institutions who did not qualify for the public funds.

Lima/Allen Council on Community Affairs
Rochelle Twining, Executive Director
(419) 227-2586