Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) – Clarion County

Art Doe has a family of four who are living on a very limited income.  His wife is on SSI and he is not working.  The family is out of fuel.  Staff did an EFSP application for the family and was able to get them a minimum load of fuel to keep the family, including two small children, warm.  Art cannot find a job without a GED, so he was also referred to our Adult Education Project and enrolled into our Comprehensive Self Sufficiency program.


Jefferson County State Food

Joe Smith, an elderly man came in needing assistance with his electric bill.  Upon further discussion, it was determined he needed other services while he recovered from pneumonia.  Staff was able to refer Joe to PenCap and Columbia Gas assistance.  Joe was also trying to apply for PACE.  Staff assisted Joe complete a PACE application and faxed it to Harrisburg.  Staff also provided Joe with the phone numbers for Lifeline, Area Agency on Aging, local food banks and Angel Food Ministries.  Staff also provided Joe a food voucher to purchase food.  Joe was very appreciative someone made the time for him to discuss his avenues of assistance and show him how to access available services.  Staff did a follow-up with Joe and learned he was found eligible for PACE which saved him $200 towards one week of medications.  Joe also informed us Columbia Gas had referred him to their Customer Assistance Program which should be able to reduce his monthly gas bill.  Joe also stated he is expecting his Lifeline device to be installed soon.  Joe’s situation is much improved today and proves the value of intensive case management.


Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP)

Shane is a small child who has numerous medical problems.  Recently Shane needed an urgent care trip to his family doctor who would determine if Shane required admittance in the DuBois Regional Medical Center for breathing difficulties.  Shane’s urgent care trip was arranged by our MATP.  Shane was subsequently admitted to the hospital.  When it was time for his discharge, MATP also provided his transportation home.  Shane’s family does not have a vehicle.  Without MATP services, his medical care may have been delayed causing his condition to worsened or been fatal.


Child Care Information Services (CCIS)

Nancy was unemployed for several months and her husband’s income was not sufficient to support their family of four, including two children.  They were struggling to pay bills and becoming desperate.  During their visit to Community Action for help with utilities and food, Nancy learned about our Child Care Information Services project and obtained an application.  Within a week of her visit to Community Action, Nancy learned she was successful obtaining employment and submitted her CCIS application.  The application was processed and the family was determined eligible for subsidized child care.  During Nancy’s CCIS interview, she repeatedly commented on how thankful she was for Community Action’s help and how hard it was to ask for help; but now was so glad she had.  Nancy had not realized how expensive child care would be until she visited the day care to enroll her children.  She was really glad we told her about CCIS and how it could help her pay for child care.  Nancy stated there would have been no reason for her to work if child care costs equaled her pay check.  A follow-up with Nancy reveled she is enjoying her new job and getting the families bills in order.  She commented her children really like the day care facility she chose.


Weatherization

In early January 2006, Community Action received a crisis referral from the Clarion County Assistance Office for Helen, who is 89 years old and has health problems.  Helen’s furnace wasn’t working and her monthly income was $577.00.  Helen could not afford a repairman.  Through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Crisis program, Community Action, Inc.’s Weatherization staff determined Helen’s furnace had a cracked heat exchanger and needed to be replaced.  Helen’s furnace was replaced that day, and other health and safety issues such as hot water tank venting and pressure relief piping were also corrected.  Helen’s home is now safer because of these corrective measures.   Helen’s new furnace is also very energy efficient and this should reduce her heating costs.


Early Care and Education Project

Community Action, Inc.’s staff began working with Marcy in early 2005 when she expressed an interest in becoming a home-based child care provider.  In March 2005, Marcy received her family day care registration to provide child care in the Clarion area.  Staff continued to periodically correspond with Marcy via email and phone on a variety of child care improvement topics including rules and regulations for family child care, professional development and the Keystone STARS program.  In the past 10 months, Marcy has been operating her facility at full enrollment and has applied for and been accepted to the Keystone STARS program at the “Start with Stars” level.  In January 2006, Marcy began taking online courses towards her Child Development Associate Credentials and an Early Childhood Associate Degree.  Marcy has also been successful in securing state funding through the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) program to pay for her credentials and degree.


Supported Engagement /Supported Work Program

Misty and her children were sometimes living with her mother and sometimes living with her boyfriend.  However, she desired a more stable home for her children.  Misty was unemployed and had many barriers to employment, including not having her driver’s license, needing dentures and obtaining a home.  Misty also needed help building self-esteem and becoming job ready.  Through collaboration with the local Assistance Office, Misty obtained dentures.  Community Action, Inc. helped Misty obtain a driver’s license and complete a Section 8 housing application.  She is currently on the waiting list for housing.  With case manager encouragement and mentoring, Misty also enrolled in adult education classes to help improve her reading and computer skills, and is ready and looking for part-time employment.  Misty maintains a determined, positive attitude and has taken the gradual steps needed to help overcome her barriers to employment and obtain self-sufficiency.


Interim Housing/Shelter Program

Mary was a Hurricane Katrina evacuee along with her daughter and daughter’s father.  They left their devastated home and moved to Pennsylvania to stay with her father and his family.  Due to cramped living space, she contacted Community Action for assistance.  Mary enrolled in the Interim Sheltering/Housing Program and received assistance with finding an adequate apartment, essential items, home furnishings, assistance with heating, electric, water and sewage bills.  Mary also received case management, a food voucher and child care assistance.  Mary was also able to find full-time employment and intends to save money in order to purchase a home.  Community Action worked with the local community to help Mary obtain a donated table and chairs, washer, couch and loveseat, dresser, bedding and other essential items.  As of February 2006, Mary reported she found full-time employment in Delaware earning $20 per hour.  She has also obtained an apartment for her and her daughter and daughter’s father. &nsbp;Mary intends to keep in touch with Community Action throughout her new endeavor.


Men’s Shelter

Neil is 47 and has been homeless most of the last several years.  He was staying in an abandoned building in New York until moving in with his sister.  When that situation did not work, he came to Community Action seeking shelter.  While Neil was in the shelter, our case manager assisted him with several medical problems and he has since been able to move into public housing, thus ending his homelessness.


Adult Education

Eric had been laid-off because of cut backs.  After an unsuccessful extensive job search, he realized that not having his high school education was keeping him from obtaining new employment. &nsbp;Eric needed help obtaining his General Education Degree (GED) to improve his job prospects and enrolled in Community Action, Inc.’s Adult Education classes.  Eric worked diligently and was able to take the next scheduled GED Exam.  Eric passed the exam, earning his GED credentials.  He has since been able to obtain employment and is currently looking to improve his employment status.

Revised March 16, 2006