Community Action 2014 Regional Forum
2017 Colorado Conference on Poverty Innovative Projects Recognition and Dinner with Keynote Remarks Wednesday August 9, 2017 6:30-8:30pm
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition •
Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing
•
Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Gunnison/Hinsdale County’s Coordination amongst multiple service and community faith based agencies to respond to emergency needs
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Routt County’s “No-Wrong Door” human service agencies collaboration
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: CECAA’s Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program
•
Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: San Luis Valley Community Action Agency Colorado Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) thru the Costilla County Public Health Agency
•
Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Adam’s County’s Subgrantee Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) Youth Employment & Education project
•
.
•
Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Prowers County’s Senior Transit Service
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Continuation of their Homeward Bound Transitional Housing • Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: CECAA’s Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Douglas County’s Data Pilot Project • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Pueblo County’s Use of operations savings for Indigent Emergency Utility Assistance and Education • Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Southwest Solar Barn raising Program • Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Jefferson County’s Homeless Families with Children Initiative • Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Summit County’s Care Navigation Program
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing The Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing is a 5-unit complex was built in 1993 and has served homeless families with children for the past 22 years. The property is owned by the City of Durango and the building was built by Housing Solutions. Having seen many households, some quite large come through the program, the structure was badly in need of repair. The future of this affordable housing, the only transitional housing complex in our 5-county area was in the balance. CSBG funds have been used through the Expanding Opportunities goal to preserve this vital affordable housing complex serving the community.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Through community-wide collaborations, partnerships with private funders and other non-profits, funding is being secured to renovate the building, providing needed improvements and also help provide future housing assistance for low-income families living in the complex. Housing Solutions is working with two private funders for the renovations as well as the Durango Education Center in the rehabilitation and restructuring of the Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Program. After exploring permanent supportive housing options and a extensive renovation of the property, Housing Solutions has made the strategic decision to pursue a less extensive renovation as the City of Durango has not agreed to requested long-term lease extensions. We are currently in collaboration with the Durango Education Center's new program, "BOOST".
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing This program is designed to help adult students with children move toward financial independence through advising, intensive case management, financial assistance, career exploration, and support and referral services. These students often times are in need of affordable housing. With close case management and the goal of financial independence we hope to place appropriate families in Homeward Bound once the renovations are complete. While the Homeward Bound apartment complex is currently vacant, once the rehabilitation is completed the measure for success of families residing there will be similar to the H.U.D. Transitional Housing measure for selfsufficiency. We are hopeful that the Homeward Bound rehabilitation could begin as soon as spring 2016, with families moving in shortly thereafter.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), through the 2016 Model State Plan and Process, incorporated a myriad of suggestions from CSBG stakeholders and evolving state and federal requirements into a plan and direction that works for all grantees. Changes included a new funding distribution allocation which takes into consideration not only the statistics for poverty in the areas served, but also geographical density, which ties to the availability and accessibility of the resources in the community; the continued streamlining of the contracting and reporting process for 35 grantees with diverse approaches to alleviating poverty, non-congruent fiscal years, and varying systems for measuring agency progress and outcomes; a clear and realistic plan for implementing the CSBG Organizational Standards in Colorado; and changing the Colorado CSBG program year from March 1st – February 28th, to one based on the calendar year.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan State staff did an excellent job in navigating the difficulty of funding formula changes including soliciting grantee input, managing the diverse needs through the state, and establishing an implementation strategy which will minimize the impact of the formula change on grantees that will be receiving less CSBG funding, and the DOLA and the Colorado Community Action Association (CCAA) have strengthened the training and technical assistance offered in such distinct, coordinated and helpful ways.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Gunnison/Hinsdale County’s Coordination amongst multiple service and community faith based agencies to respond to emergency needs Continued coordinated efforts with the multiple service and community faith based organizations and agencies to respond to emergency needs in the community (medical, shelter/housing, household utilities, gas vouchers, bus tickets, minor auto repairs, dental, behavioral health, vision and other services). Gunnison/Hinsdale HHS serves as the primary entry point for these requests in the community. In addition to funding specific emergency needs, applicants in need of direct case management are provided all needed services.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Routt County’s “No Wrong Door” initiative Collaboration with other human services agencies provides a "no wrong door" for clients with seamless and transparent process.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Colorado East Community Action Agency’s (CECAA) Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program When the TEFAP (temporary emergency food assistance program) in Lincoln county was in danger of shutting down for lack of a sponsoring agency, we were able to mobilize our agency and keep the program active. We have maintained the volunteer base and added paid employees to better staff the program. Even in the early months our numbers of families served is increasing.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: San Luis Valley Community Action Agency’s Colorado Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) thru the Costilla County Public Health Agency This program provides monthly food package delivered to clients in San Luis, Ft. Garland, Alamosa, and Del Norte. The population they serve is low income and the elderly who must meet income eligibility levels. They also have a staff of volunteers to deliver food packages to homebound clients who may request this service. Since the food packages are not pre-prepared, they provide recipes and nutritional education to each individual. Through volunteers, funding through CSBG, we are able to provide the food package to over 600 individuals monthly and another 526 individuals on a quarterly basis.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action
2015 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Adams County’s Subgrantee Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Youth Employment & Education program Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) continued their Youth Employment and Education project, which assists refugee and asylee youth residing in Adams County in preparing for and becoming employed.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action
2015 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Prowers County’s Senior Transit Program Approximately 54 Senior Citizens that qualify for our programs, this allows them to stay in their own homes longer and living on their own longer without county services with their access to transit services which allow them a way to access health services, educational and work related resources available in Prowers County.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Housing Solutions for the Southwest - Our long-term solution involves the progression of our last year's identified solution. The strategy involves the future use of our Homeward Bound Transitional Housing 5-unit complex. Built in 1993, Homeward Bound has served homeless families with children for the past 22 years. The building was in dire need of a renovation to continue to serve as the only transitional housing in our 5-county area. To further add to the dilemma, our funding to operate the building, provided by H.U.D., was denied funding in 2016 and due to a change in the strategy at the federal level will not be funded in the future.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… Through the use of funds under our CSBG Expanding Opportunities grant, community-wide collaborations, partnerships with private funders and non-profits, funding was secured to do the necessary rehabilitation of the unit. The rehabilitation was completed in the beginning of August, 2016. Additional CSBG funds were granted through the Discretionary Grant to allow for new beds, dressers, tables, chairs and screens for the units. Our partners helped not only with the renovation of the building, but in providing funding to operate the affordable housing complex. A local private company provided two grants in this effort, one to help renovate the largest unit in the complex and another to sponsor a homeless family with children who were victims of domestic violence
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… Another partner we are working with is the Adult Education Center. Through their "BOOST Program", 4 homeless youth who are in the GED Program now have housing at Homeward Bound. The BOOST Program is designed to help youth move toward financial independence through advising, intensive case management, financial assistance, career exploration, support and referral services. We felt that this program was a good match with our mission at HS. With a focus on homelessness and pursuit of education, 2 of the remaining units are now occupied by families who have Housing Choice Vouchers and are attending the local college. We are continuing to work with the Adult Education Center and their BOOST Program to use the remaining 4 bedroom unit to house 4 additional youth who are also in the GED program and homeless. Other partners in this effort include local churches who have painted the units and done landscaping, the City of Durango and H.U.D. who allowed us to apply the balance of the grant in 2015 to help with the rehabilitation. All initial tenants are still being housed.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association DOLA established baseline assessments of the Organizational Standards through a new web-based system that includes Technical Assistance Plans, and allows grantees to track and monitor progress as they work to become fully compliant with the standards. DOLA implemented the system, proactively and consistently provided trainings on the first assessment, and provided technical assistance throughout the efficient process. With this new web-based system, grantees can easily track and check at a glance what standards have been accomplished, and where they are at with those standards still pending.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association The DOLA staff has been extremely responsive in helping with all questions regarding the software and Organizational Standards in general. This work was greatly aided by a strong partnership with the State Association, the Colorado Community Action Association. The state continues to be extremely effective in providing both formal and informal training/technical assistance (T/TA) in collaboration with the Colorado Community Action Association, establishing a positive atmosphere of continuous improvement while providing feedback to grantees on a timely and constructive basis. The relationship between the state and the Colorado Community Action Association is a very strong benefit, and allows for one-on-one contact between grantees and State T/TA providers.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association DOLA and CCAA Staff always made themselves available for assistance, ROMA Trainings, quarterly calls and webinars. Support provided through the relationship is always effective and efficient, and has allowed for better communication and delivery of services to grantees, tripartite boards/committees, and sub-contractors. One example from this year was the Regional Forums which allowed grantees and health and human service agencies across various regions to come together to network, learn new strategies in the war against poverty, and share best practices. The relationship offers "seamless" coordination between DOLA and the CCAA in getting training and the necessary information to the state's grantees (especially rural grantees).
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Colorado East Community Action Agency’s (CECAA) Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program Colorado East Community Action Agency: The Agency took over the TEFAP (temporary emergency food assistance program) for Lincoln County when it became apparent that the program was in danger of discontinuing. They had the staffing and the capacity to administer this program and were able to expand the program to meet the needs of Lincoln County and adjacent service areas. The program grew from two distribution sites to four in order to better accommodate access to the program. They also saw an increase from 230 families to 370 families and an increase from approximately 400 individuals to over 780 individuals.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Douglas County’s Data Pilot Project In 2016 Douglas County, in partnership with the Colorado Community Action Association, launched the CSBG Data Pilot Project. This project provides a single system to track data across three programs and thirteen agencies in Douglas County. This will allow local leadership to track impact of services delivered to vulnerable residents across the community.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Pueblo County’s Use of operations savings for Indigent Emergency Utility Assistance and Education Increased CSBG Indigent Emergency funds through savings in Operating and Vacancy costs and utilizing the CSBG Indigent Funds for Emergency Electric Utility and Rent Assistance. Through the program they were able to collaborate with other Departments, Non-Profits and the Private Sector to assist clients in becoming more self sufficient by showing them how to take action on how to pay future utility bills by utilizing the payment assistance options that Utility companies provide and in obtaining other public benefits to allow them to keep their limited income to pay their utility/rent bills.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Southwest Solar Barn raising Program Housing Solutions serves the five county area of Colorado encompassing 6,583 square miles in the southwest corner of the state, which is a very rural area that is 45% public lands, 38% private lands and 17% tribal lands. Communities are geographically isolated, creating housing, economic and social challenges for the residents of our region. Most of the geographical region Housing Solutions serves does not have central water or sewer systems or availability of central gas or electrical services.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… To address the affordable housing need of the community, Housing Solutions partnered with multiple public and private entities to build an affordable housing community of 61 single family homes called Southwest Horizon Ranch 16 years ago. Originally built in part with LIHTC funding, Housing Solutions exercised the right of first refusal by assuming the debt on the property and taking ownership in 2015. As an affordable housing development, rental funding is limited, but expenses are higher than a typical metro area LIHTC apartment building project. One of the most challenging aspects of Southwest Horizon Ranch is to provide and pay for the costs to provide water to the residents. An on-site well system was built to provide potable water to the subdivision, but costs include maintenance, electrical costs to power the well, water-well testing, not to mention the cost of having a certified water technician on staff.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Jefferson County’s Homeless Families w/children Initiative The goal of the initiative is to target homeless families with children in Jefferson County Public schools who are living at 125% FPL or below and provide them with a housing subsidy, case management, and educational support services (for the children) for up to 24 months.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Summit County’s Care Navigation Program The Care Navigation program provides services to seniors on a one-on-one basis through assessment to help identify strengths, needs and set goals in any identified areas: accessing public benefits, medical/dental/vision/mental health needs, transportation, vocational goals, various community grants, housing (Section 8, weatherization, home repair/modification, relocation), social/recreational/spiritual opportunities...any other goals they may have. Meeting with client's on a continuing basis to work towards the identified goals.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition •
Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing
•
Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Gunnison/Hinsdale County’s Coordination amongst multiple service and community faith based agencies to respond to emergency needs
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Routt County’s “No-Wrong Door” human service agencies collaboration
•
Top Agency Management Accomplishment: CECAA’s Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program
•
Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: San Luis Valley Community Action Agency Colorado Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) thru the Costilla County Public Health Agency
•
Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Adam’s County’s Subgrantee Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) Youth Employment & Education project
•
.
•
Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Prowers County’s Senior Transit Service
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Continuation of their Homeward Bound Transitional Housing • Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: CECAA’s Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Douglas County’s Data Pilot Project • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Pueblo County’s Use of operations savings for Indigent Emergency Utility Assistance and Education • Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Southwest Solar Barn raising Program • Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Jefferson County’s Homeless Families with Children Initiative • Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Summit County’s Care Navigation Program
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing The Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing is a 5-unit complex was built in 1993 and has served homeless families with children for the past 22 years. The property is owned by the City of Durango and the building was built by Housing Solutions. Having seen many households, some quite large come through the program, the structure was badly in need of repair. The future of this affordable housing, the only transitional housing complex in our 5-county area was in the balance. CSBG funds have been used through the Expanding Opportunities goal to preserve this vital affordable housing complex serving the community.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Through community-wide collaborations, partnerships with private funders and other non-profits, funding is being secured to renovate the building, providing needed improvements and also help provide future housing assistance for low-income families living in the complex. Housing Solutions is working with two private funders for the renovations as well as the Durango Education Center in the rehabilitation and restructuring of the Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Program. After exploring permanent supportive housing options and a extensive renovation of the property, Housing Solutions has made the strategic decision to pursue a less extensive renovation as the City of Durango has not agreed to requested long-term lease extensions. We are currently in collaboration with the Durango Education Center's new program, "BOOST".
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing This program is designed to help adult students with children move toward financial independence through advising, intensive case management, financial assistance, career exploration, and support and referral services. These students often times are in need of affordable housing. With close case management and the goal of financial independence we hope to place appropriate families in Homeward Bound once the renovations are complete. While the Homeward Bound apartment complex is currently vacant, once the rehabilitation is completed the measure for success of families residing there will be similar to the H.U.D. Transitional Housing measure for selfsufficiency. We are hopeful that the Homeward Bound rehabilitation could begin as soon as spring 2016, with families moving in shortly thereafter.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), through the 2016 Model State Plan and Process, incorporated a myriad of suggestions from CSBG stakeholders and evolving state and federal requirements into a plan and direction that works for all grantees. Changes included a new funding distribution allocation which takes into consideration not only the statistics for poverty in the areas served, but also geographical density, which ties to the availability and accessibility of the resources in the community; the continued streamlining of the contracting and reporting process for 35 grantees with diverse approaches to alleviating poverty, non-congruent fiscal years, and varying systems for measuring agency progress and outcomes; a clear and realistic plan for implementing the CSBG Organizational Standards in Colorado; and changing the Colorado CSBG program year from March 1st – February 28th, to one based on the calendar year.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: 2016 Model State Plan State staff did an excellent job in navigating the difficulty of funding formula changes including soliciting grantee input, managing the diverse needs through the state, and establishing an implementation strategy which will minimize the impact of the formula change on grantees that will be receiving less CSBG funding, and the DOLA and the Colorado Community Action Association (CCAA) have strengthened the training and technical assistance offered in such distinct, coordinated and helpful ways.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Gunnison/Hinsdale County’s Coordination amongst multiple service and community faith based agencies to respond to emergency needs Continued coordinated efforts with the multiple service and community faith based organizations and agencies to respond to emergency needs in the community (medical, shelter/housing, household utilities, gas vouchers, bus tickets, minor auto repairs, dental, behavioral health, vision and other services). Gunnison/Hinsdale HHS serves as the primary entry point for these requests in the community. In addition to funding specific emergency needs, applicants in need of direct case management are provided all needed services.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Routt County’s “No Wrong Door” initiative Collaboration with other human services agencies provides a "no wrong door" for clients with seamless and transparent process.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Colorado East Community Action Agency’s (CECAA) Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program When the TEFAP (temporary emergency food assistance program) in Lincoln county was in danger of shutting down for lack of a sponsoring agency, we were able to mobilize our agency and keep the program active. We have maintained the volunteer base and added paid employees to better staff the program. Even in the early months our numbers of families served is increasing.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2015 CO IS Report Recognition Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: San Luis Valley Community Action Agency’s Colorado Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) thru the Costilla County Public Health Agency This program provides monthly food package delivered to clients in San Luis, Ft. Garland, Alamosa, and Del Norte. The population they serve is low income and the elderly who must meet income eligibility levels. They also have a staff of volunteers to deliver food packages to homebound clients who may request this service. Since the food packages are not pre-prepared, they provide recipes and nutritional education to each individual. Through volunteers, funding through CSBG, we are able to provide the food package to over 600 individuals monthly and another 526 individuals on a quarterly basis.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action
2015 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Adams County’s Subgrantee Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Youth Employment & Education program Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) continued their Youth Employment and Education project, which assists refugee and asylee youth residing in Adams County in preparing for and becoming employed.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action
2015 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Prowers County’s Senior Transit Program Approximately 54 Senior Citizens that qualify for our programs, this allows them to stay in their own homes longer and living on their own longer without county services with their access to transit services which allow them a way to access health services, educational and work related resources available in Prowers County.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing Housing Solutions for the Southwest - Our long-term solution involves the progression of our last year's identified solution. The strategy involves the future use of our Homeward Bound Transitional Housing 5-unit complex. Built in 1993, Homeward Bound has served homeless families with children for the past 22 years. The building was in dire need of a renovation to continue to serve as the only transitional housing in our 5-county area. To further add to the dilemma, our funding to operate the building, provided by H.U.D., was denied funding in 2016 and due to a change in the strategy at the federal level will not be funded in the future.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… Through the use of funds under our CSBG Expanding Opportunities grant, community-wide collaborations, partnerships with private funders and non-profits, funding was secured to do the necessary rehabilitation of the unit. The rehabilitation was completed in the beginning of August, 2016. Additional CSBG funds were granted through the Discretionary Grant to allow for new beds, dressers, tables, chairs and screens for the units. Our partners helped not only with the renovation of the building, but in providing funding to operate the affordable housing complex. A local private company provided two grants in this effort, one to help renovate the largest unit in the complex and another to sponsor a homeless family with children who were victims of domestic violence
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… Another partner we are working with is the Adult Education Center. Through their "BOOST Program", 4 homeless youth who are in the GED Program now have housing at Homeward Bound. The BOOST Program is designed to help youth move toward financial independence through advising, intensive case management, financial assistance, career exploration, support and referral services. We felt that this program was a good match with our mission at HS. With a focus on homelessness and pursuit of education, 2 of the remaining units are now occupied by families who have Housing Choice Vouchers and are attending the local college. We are continuing to work with the Adult Education Center and their BOOST Program to use the remaining 4 bedroom unit to house 4 additional youth who are also in the GED program and homeless. Other partners in this effort include local churches who have painted the units and done landscaping, the City of Durango and H.U.D. who allowed us to apply the balance of the grant in 2015 to help with the rehabilitation. All initial tenants are still being housed.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association DOLA established baseline assessments of the Organizational Standards through a new web-based system that includes Technical Assistance Plans, and allows grantees to track and monitor progress as they work to become fully compliant with the standards. DOLA implemented the system, proactively and consistently provided trainings on the first assessment, and provided technical assistance throughout the efficient process. With this new web-based system, grantees can easily track and check at a glance what standards have been accomplished, and where they are at with those standards still pending.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association The DOLA staff has been extremely responsive in helping with all questions regarding the software and Organizational Standards in general. This work was greatly aided by a strong partnership with the State Association, the Colorado Community Action Association. The state continues to be extremely effective in providing both formal and informal training/technical assistance (T/TA) in collaboration with the Colorado Community Action Association, establishing a positive atmosphere of continuous improvement while providing feedback to grantees on a timely and constructive basis. The relationship between the state and the Colorado Community Action Association is a very strong benefit, and allows for one-on-one contact between grantees and State T/TA providers.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top State Management Accomplishment: Organizational Standards Implementation and Partnership with State Association DOLA and CCAA Staff always made themselves available for assistance, ROMA Trainings, quarterly calls and webinars. Support provided through the relationship is always effective and efficient, and has allowed for better communication and delivery of services to grantees, tripartite boards/committees, and sub-contractors. One example from this year was the Regional Forums which allowed grantees and health and human service agencies across various regions to come together to network, learn new strategies in the war against poverty, and share best practices. The relationship offers "seamless" coordination between DOLA and the CCAA in getting training and the necessary information to the state's grantees (especially rural grantees).
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Colorado East Community Action Agency’s (CECAA) Sponsorship and management of Lincoln County’s TEFAP program Colorado East Community Action Agency: The Agency took over the TEFAP (temporary emergency food assistance program) for Lincoln County when it became apparent that the program was in danger of discontinuing. They had the staffing and the capacity to administer this program and were able to expand the program to meet the needs of Lincoln County and adjacent service areas. The program grew from two distribution sites to four in order to better accommodate access to the program. They also saw an increase from 230 families to 370 families and an increase from approximately 400 individuals to over 780 individuals.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Douglas County’s Data Pilot Project In 2016 Douglas County, in partnership with the Colorado Community Action Association, launched the CSBG Data Pilot Project. This project provides a single system to track data across three programs and thirteen agencies in Douglas County. This will allow local leadership to track impact of services delivered to vulnerable residents across the community.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Top Agency Management Accomplishment: Pueblo County’s Use of operations savings for Indigent Emergency Utility Assistance and Education Increased CSBG Indigent Emergency funds through savings in Operating and Vacancy costs and utilizing the CSBG Indigent Funds for Emergency Electric Utility and Rent Assistance. Through the program they were able to collaborate with other Departments, Non-Profits and the Private Sector to assist clients in becoming more self sufficient by showing them how to take action on how to pay future utility bills by utilizing the payment assistance options that Utility companies provide and in obtaining other public benefits to allow them to keep their limited income to pay their utility/rent bills.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition • Mobilizing Resources to Support Innovative Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest’s Southwest Solar Barn raising Program Housing Solutions serves the five county area of Colorado encompassing 6,583 square miles in the southwest corner of the state, which is a very rural area that is 45% public lands, 38% private lands and 17% tribal lands. Communities are geographically isolated, creating housing, economic and social challenges for the residents of our region. Most of the geographical region Housing Solutions serves does not have central water or sewer systems or availability of central gas or electrical services.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Strategic Thinking for Long-Term Solutions: Housing Solutions for the Southwest Homeward Bound Transitional Housing continued… To address the affordable housing need of the community, Housing Solutions partnered with multiple public and private entities to build an affordable housing community of 61 single family homes called Southwest Horizon Ranch 16 years ago. Originally built in part with LIHTC funding, Housing Solutions exercised the right of first refusal by assuming the debt on the property and taking ownership in 2015. As an affordable housing development, rental funding is limited, but expenses are higher than a typical metro area LIHTC apartment building project. One of the most challenging aspects of Southwest Horizon Ranch is to provide and pay for the costs to provide water to the residents. An on-site well system was built to provide potable water to the subdivision, but costs include maintenance, electrical costs to power the well, water-well testing, not to mention the cost of having a certified water technician on staff.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Youth: Jefferson County’s Homeless Families w/children Initiative The goal of the initiative is to target homeless families with children in Jefferson County Public schools who are living at 125% FPL or below and provide them with a housing subsidy, case management, and educational support services (for the children) for up to 24 months.
Recognizing Agencies and Programs in CO Community Action 2016 CO IS Report Recognition Providing Positive Results for Vulnerable Populations – Seniors: Summit County’s Care Navigation Program The Care Navigation program provides services to seniors on a one-on-one basis through assessment to help identify strengths, needs and set goals in any identified areas: accessing public benefits, medical/dental/vision/mental health needs, transportation, vocational goals, various community grants, housing (Section 8, weatherization, home repair/modification, relocation), social/recreational/spiritual opportunities...any other goals they may have. Meeting with client's on a continuing basis to work towards the identified goals.
