Community Action House Fact Sheet – 2005/06

Annual Report

The statistics noted are from the Community Action House 2005/06

fiscal year which began on July 1, 2005 and ended on June 30, 2006.

FOOD

188,972  total meals were distributed through the Emergency Food Program of CAH consisting of two food pantries and a kitchen.

153,096  meals were provided to 5,000 children and their families through our two emergency food pantries.

22,158  hot meals at the Community Kitchen* were served to:  Senior citizens, Low income families, Community members suffering from alcoholism and drug addictions, Seminary students, Single parents with children.

13,718 meals through the USDA Commodities Supplemental Food Program** were given to Senior citizens living on a very low fixed incomes.

CLOTHES

177,594  items of donated clothing, hard goods (dishes, silverware, toys, pictures, appliances etc.) and furniture were  distributed to community residents.

152,594  items were given to clients for free.  Twenty five thousand additional items were sold through CAH’s Thrift Store generating $70,000 in sales of which 100% of the proceeds were dedicated to funding CAH programs.

CASE MANAGEMENT

Homelessness Prevention Program – Ninety nine families were served through this program; 100% of the families involved maintained stable housing.

Community Housing Partnership (CHP) - Over a two year period, this program is designed to empower families to obtain stable housing.  Forty-three families went through this program with 70% of the families obtaining secure housing of their choice. (This program operate in partnership with Good Samaritan Ministries.)

Guaranteed Security Deposit Program (GSD) - The GSD program is funded by Community  Block Grant funds administered by the City of Holland.  The GSD program guarantees landlords payment of a security deposit.  Twenty-one families participated; 100% of the families reported to have maintained stable housing.

Emergency Service Case Management - Nineteen families were helped to identify the root causes of their poverty and develop goals to eliminate the causes; 93% of the families obtained their case management goals.

Life Skills Classes - Life skills classes are designed to help low-income families obtain information necessary to increase their ability to become self-sufficient.  Subjects that are covered are barriers to self-sufficiency, relevant community resources, how to find and keep a job, budgeting, setting goals and achieving goals.   The classes were attended by 801 students. 

Referrals -  To access and obtain other programs and resources available through over 40 other agencies, 2,395 referrals were made on behalf of clients.

Volunteers – Community Residents donated 17,148 hours of volunteer time to CAH.  Using the hourly rate of $16.54 established by Points of Light the value of time donated is $283,642.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

First Time Home Buyer Education Classes -  CAH offers classes in Home Buyer Education, Financial Management, Economic Literacy and Home Maintenance; 186 Adults attended these classes.  Thirty-five families that attended the Home Buyer Education class purchased a home within one year after attending the classes.   Sixty-four percent of all students reported making steady progress toward home purchase.

*The Community Kitchen is located in Western Theological Seminary and is a joint project between the seminary & CAH.

**CAH operates the program in partnership with the Ottawa County Community Action Agency.