Following is a letter from a mother of three who’s children were enrolled in Community Action Wayne/Medina’s Head Start and Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funded programs. It tells of the struggles this family endured and how Community Action helped improve their lives. For more information about Community Action programs in your area, visit www.oacaa.org. Note, not all …
Diabetic Senior Receives the Help He Needs
Juan, a 66 year old Lake County resident who lives with his daughter’s family is an insulin-dependent diabetic without medical insurance. His family must absorb the financial responsibility of his medical care. Juan turned to Lifeline for the Empowerment and Development of Consumers, the Lake County Community Action Agency, for assistance with his diabetic needs. His required insulin was over …
Local program helps fathers be fathers
Article and photo reprinted with permission from the Marion Star Published June 16, 2013 by John Jarvis When Richard G. Byrd Jr. heard about a program that would help him find work after months of being told by employers they wouldn’t hire him because he had a felony conviction, he had his doubts. “I wasn’t sure, but I was open-minded,” the …
There’s No Place Like Home
Mark and Joann had big dreams of buying their first home for them and their three children. To help in this process, they turned to Lima Allen Council on Community Affairs (LACCA) for assistance. LACCA offers a Homeownership program that provides 12 hours of homeownership classes that identifies the process in which homeownership is accomplished. Speakers discuss home financing, establishing …
Community Action Helps Improve Family’s Livelihood
Melissa, an LPN, is caring for both her husband and her mother who are disabled, as well as her two young children. After becoming the sole bread winner when her husband could no longer work, Melissa realized she needed to do more to provide for her family. Melissa enrolled in an Individual Development Account (IDA) program at SELF (Supports to …
Eye Care Assistance Helps Ohioan See a Better Future
Mallory lost her job and was living in a homeless shelter. She also broke her glasses and had no way of replacing them without any medical insurance or money. She learned of Lifeline’s Eye Care Assistance program from another shelter resident. Mallory turned to Lifeline, the Lake County Community Action Agency, for assistance. Lifeline’s Eye Care Assistance program was able …
Homeless Veteran Finds a Home and a New Family
In January 2011, the Ohio State Highway Patrol picked up a man they found walking on State Route 23 just south of South Bloomfield and took him to the Circleville Police Department. Because the man was a homeless veteran, the CPD contacted Joe, Pickaway County Community Action’s (PICCA) transitional housing manager. Joe called a local hotel to put the man …
Ex-Offender Turns Life Around and Chases His Dream
This is the story of Dante, an ex-offender who received assistance from IMPACT Community Action in his own words: “At the age of 21, I was a young man with dreams, hopes and potential, but I was also immature, irresponsible, impressionable and reckless. I made a mistake that cost me 18 years of my life. I went to jail in …
A Win-Win Situation for Employer and Employee
David, an army veteran who served as a fire control equipment specialist in the 1980’s was laid off, had exhausted his unemployment benefits and feared losing his home. He had never used his VA benefits before, but he visited the Scioto County One Stop, run by the Community Action Organization of Scioto County for possible assistance with veterans services. During …
Medicaid Expansion Testimony
Good morning Chairman Amstutz, Vice Chairman McClain, Ranking Member Sykes and members of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee. My name is Phil Cole, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies and I am here today to offer testimony in support of Medicaid Expansion as set forth in H.B. 59. I appreciate the opportunity to present my …