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2007 Community Resource Guide
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Housing Success Story
(Fall 2005)
"Sherry" (not her real
name), a recovering addict and a single-parent mother of two young sons,
entered our housing program 2˝ years ago. The family was initially
placed in the emergency family shelter, and moved into a transitional
apartment a short time later.
When Sherry entered our
program, she did not have a high school diploma and was working
part-time as a bartender. Legal problems existed that barred her from
entering Whatcom County. While in Transitional Housing, she completed
her GED, and was able to enter Skagit Valley Colleges Carpentry
Apprenticeship Program. She recently graduated from that program with
honors, and was employed in a full-time carpentry position with a local
contractor.
Earlier this year, Sherry
appeared in court and gained permission to enter Whatcom County. Unable
to find an attorney to represent her, she met with SCCAA's staff
attorney and obtained advice on how to proceed without one. Sherry stood
before the prosecuting attorney alone, and was able to win back the
right to enter Whatcom County.
Through all, she has remained
clean and sober, which has prompted other positive outcomes. After
"graduating" from our housing program late this past summer, she and her
sons moved to a rental home in Bellingham. Sherry was accepted at
Western Washington University, where she began classes this past fall.
SCCAA served Sherry through
the agency's Legal, Financial Literacy, and Community Voice Mail
programs. Admittedly, the stability provided with affordable housing and
the family development support component was central to her being able
to move forward in achieving the level of self-sufficiency that she has. |
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Voluntary Action Center
"Workcamp" Home Repair Project
SCCAA
partnered with Group Workcamp, a national Christian high school youth
camp service organization during the Summer of 2004. A VISTA
position assigned to SCCAA assisted in oversight of the project.
Youth contributions, part of the "camp" fees of the 263 participants in
the week-long event, amounted to $11,000. An additional $34,288
was obtained from the Northwest Arch Diocese Housing Development
Program, Roe Foundation, and Northwest Regional Council. A local
lumber yard, Mount Vernon Building Supply, sold material at a deep
discount to the project, and also provided free delivery to work sites.
Mount Vernon School District housed the volunteer youth.
Home repairs
were completed on 39 low-income homes throughout the county, and ranged
from roofing to painting to structural repairs. 75% of the
recipient families were seniors and/or disabled. 263 volunteer
youth workers contributed 11,500 hours of labor, valued by the Points of
Light Foundation at $16.54/hour, or $190.210. Labor and material
donations total were valued at $234,338. Youth connected with the
families not only through providing desperately needed repairs, but the
enriched relationships and brought joy into the lives of all
participating families, as evidenced by the tears and hugs at the
closing post-project night celebration that brought all participating
families, volunteer youth, supervisors, and SCCAA agency personnel
together. |
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Literacy
Rosa has
studied English with our literacy program for two years. When she
began, she spoke no English, could not read or write English, and was
unsure of her academic skills. She was from rural Mexico and had
left school very young to get married. Since she began, she has
advanced four levels of English in skill.
In literacy
classes, the focus is on connecting students to their community, and
Rosa is an example of success in this regard as well. She and her
children attended a neighborhood clean-up day and were able to converse
in English and get to know their neighbors, they attended the Children's
Museum after hearing about it in class, and got a library card.
Rosa also has become more involved in her children's education as she
has gained confidence in her skills. She practices English with
her children and helps them with their homework. She has attended
school field trips, and learned how to fill out the Scholastic book form
so she can order books for her children to start their own library at
home.
In the past
year, her successes include:
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Energy Energized by Response to Survey
SCCAA's Energy Assistance Program does an
enormous amount of good, but measuring its impact on people's lives has
always been a challenge. To get a better idea of how they were serving
their clients, energy staff recently crafted a survey to ask clients if they
were willing to share how energy assistance had made a difference for their
family. The survey was sent out to about 300 former clients and the
response has been a pleasant surprise. Over 70 responses have already
been received, and almost all of these have been very positive.
I'm a 61 year-old disabled person with numerous health
problems. If I did not get energy assistance, I could not afford the
special food I need. Energy assistance guarantees that I stay warm and
fed.
If I didn't get the help me and my children would have
had no heat at all.
The program is truly a gift. It would have been
impossible for me to make it through the winter.
Congratulations Energy Staff, both for
taking the initiative with your survey and for all of the positive impacts
you've made on people's lives!
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Another Satisfied Client: Success
in Concrete
Jewel is just one of the many clients Joyce
Shoop, our East County Resource Technician, has worked with in Concrete.
She received assistance through our Energy Assistance and Critical Needs
programs. Joyce was also able to provide Jewel with a number of
fruitful referrals. The following letter of appreciation speaks for
itself. Jewel was even filmed for our new agency video!
Community Action:
A note of
appreciation to say thank you for all of your help in our time of need.
The funds and wood vouchers, the referrals to Salvation Army, Love, Inc.,
and the Burlington Soroptimists -- all were wonderful. Also a special
thank you to a very professional lady, Joyce, in your Concrete office. -- Jewel
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Give Him Shelter!
This Spring at our Emergency Shelter, a
single father arrived who had lost his driver's license because of unpaid
traffic tickets. Unable to drive to work, he subsequently lost his job
as a painter. Working with Stacy Miller, our Family Development &
Housing Coordinator, he was able to get the tickets paid-off while only
receiving TANF, and move into transitional housing. Once his license
was reinstated, he was able to find employment making $20.00 per hour and
move-on to permanent housing of his own. He was also able to gain
custody of his daughters from his ex-wife, a heavy meth user, and remove
them from harm. The children are now doing well in school and
adjusting to their new, safer way of life. Kudos to Stacy and the crew
in Housing for their role in helping this recent client get back on his
feet.
Backpack Giveaway Big Success!
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On August 18th and 19th, SCCAA hosted its
third annual backpack giveaway. Families were lined up outside of the
agency before the doors opened to ensure that their children would have a
chance at getting the hot item.
The backpacks were donated by the employees of the Boeing
Company, who purchased all of the materials with personal funds. Each
backpack was equipped with the school supplies students need when they start
classes, including binders, scissors, paper, pencils, and other
indispensable items.
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Starting back to school in the Fall can be a time of mixed
blessings for parents. While parents are relieved from the work of
taking care of their kids all day, purchasing school supplies often
represents a huge financial burden. Pencils, paper and crayons, not to
mention backpacks, can really add up and put a strain on an already tight
budget.
By having these school supplies donated, parents can share
in their children's excitement about returning to school. Children, in
turn, can feel confident that they are equipped with all the tools they need
to succeed. Backpacks are available for students from elementary
school through high school. To increase the number of families we can
help, each family is eligible for a backpack for one child.
Last year, Boeing employees donated 80 fully-equipped
backpacks. This year we expected a decline in the number of donations
due to recent Boeing cutbacks, so we were surprised to receive 111
donations! |
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Letter from a Satisfied Client: Our
Raison d'Etre
To Whom It May Concern:
God bless you for this help. It's been a very
difficult year. Monday, I finally go to V.A. to get the operation I
needed while in the military. Most of you probably feel the same way I
do, you hate asking for help. It's a relief knowing while I'm in the
hospital, my fiancé won't be evicted and I'll have a place to recover.
You have removed an enormous amount of stress. I regard this money as
a loan. You can count on me repaying this many times over. You
have saved me. When recovered I will be in contact. When I was
associated with the military (over 16 years) I was always happy, glad I
could contribute to the CFC and other charities. I never thought I'd
be the one needing help. Thank you.
--A Satisfied Veterans Assistance Client
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