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 …
Single Mom Goes Back to School and Buys a Home with the Help of Community Action
When Betty Jo first came to Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF), the designated Community Action Agency for Butler County, she was a struggling single mother who was working full-time. She had been taken advantage of by others and she seriously doubted her ability to succeed. Betty Jo enrolled in SELF’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program and went back to …
Community Action Helps Rural Resident Receive Needed Medical Treatment
Roy is a diabetic living in rural Mahoning County who had a stroke that left him blind. As part of his care, his doctor recently ordered him to start receiving dialysis treatments three times per week. Unfortunately, the facility he was sent to is in Trumbull County, roughly 25 miles away from his home, and being blind he was unsure …
Legislative Update
One of the most important priorities for the Kasich Administration and the General Assembly, if not the most important priority, is to change the workforce development statutes. Below are the bills related to workforce development that OACAA continues to follow and work on: H.B.1 sponsored by Rep Derickson – OhioMeansJobs: The process of updating workforce development statutes is beginning by changing …
Community Action Helps Dayton Youth Improve Her Grades
Cierra is an 11-year-old girl living in Dayton who has been participating in the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area’s Youth Empowerment Center. She has been flourishing in the program and was recently excited to report to the director of the program her noteworthy improvement in her school performance. The Youth Empowerment Center is a multi-dynamic support system …
Community Action Helps Stroke Victim Keep His Home
J.D. is a veteran who was working full time until he suffered a stroke and heart attack that placed him on FMLA (Family & Medical Leave Act). This ultimately led to his termination of employment when his leave extended beyond 12 weeks, leaving him and his wife in financial trouble. J.D.’s job was the only source of income for him …