KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM

ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF THREE DIVISIONS: (1) ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES, (2) COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND (3) REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. THE ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES DIVISION WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, TO REDUCE ENERGY BURDEN, TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TO SUSTAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IN KENNEBEC, SOMERSET, LINCOLN, AND SAGADAHOC COUNTIES. THIS IS DONE THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATION/ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INCLUDING: LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP), LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIAP), EMERGENCY CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (ECIP), CENTRAL HEATING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP), WEATHERIZATION, HOME REPAIR, DEP HOME HEATING OIL TANK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, EMERGENCY RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAM (ERA), FORECLOSURE COUNSELING, AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION. IN THIS LAST YEAR, 8,436 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FUEL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM STAY WARM THROUGH THE WINTER; OVER 120 FURNACES WERE SERVICED OR REPLACED, MAKING THEM SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE; OVER 115 HOUSEHOLDS HAD A HEAT PUMP INSTALLED; OVER 60 HOMES WERE WEATHERIZED, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS FOR RECIPIENTS; AND OVER 40 HOMES WERE REPAIRED, PROVIDING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR RECIPIENTS. 388 PEOPLE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A HOMEBUYER EDUCATION COURSE AND 39 HOUSEHOLDS WORKED WITH A HOUSING COUNSELOR ON CREATING A BUDGET AND IMPROVING CREDIT SCORES.THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES DIVISION PROGRAMMING IS MANAGED THROUGH THE ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THEIR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES OPERATING A TEEN CENTER, RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, AND FACILITATING THE POVERTY ACTION COALITION IN BOTH KENNEBEC AND SOMERSET COUNTIES. THE SOUTH END TEEN CENTER PROVIDES ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO YOUTH FROM GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 IN WATERVILLE, MAINE. FORTY-ONE MEMBERS ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, MUSIC LESSONS, COOKING CLASSES, HOMEWORK AND TUTORING, JOB TRAINING, AND OTHER ENRICHING ACTIVITIES WHILE FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND/OR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. FOUR MEMBERS GOT A JOB AND TWO MEMBERS OBTAINED THEIR DRIVER'S PERMIT. THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL MEMBERS ADVANCED TO THE NEXT GRADE. THE RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS REFERRED THROUGH OTHER KVCAP PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO HELP ADDRESS A FINANCIAL CRISIS. THE POVERTY ACTION COALITIONS' (PAC) COMMUNITY INVESTORS INITIATIVE DRAWS ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS THAT THREATENS THEIR STABILITY AND WHEN NO OTHER RESOURCES EXIST. SPECIAL GRANT DOLLARS AND LOCAL DONATIONS ALLOW US TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH ESSENTIAL NEEDS INCLUDING FOOD AND HYGIENE ITEMS, FUEL, UTILITY EXPENSES, CELL PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN WORK AND SCHOOL FROM HOME, CAR PAYMENTS, AND INSURANCE. 546 FAMILIES RECEIVED COACHING ON GOAL SETTING, FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, BASIC NEEDS, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. MORE THAN 10,000 FAMILIES RECEIVED DIRECT SUPPORTS TO HELP MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING HOUSING, HYGIENE, FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, MEDICAL ITEMS, AND MORE.THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WORKS TOWARD FINDING AND DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE AREAS NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIRTY NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WERE COMPLETED IN HARTLAND. KVCAP PURCHASED 2 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN WATERVILLE; WITH ONE BEING FULLY RENOVATED AND AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND THE SECOND ESTIMATED TO HIT THE MARKET IN SPRING OF 2025. SIX CONDOMINIUMS AND THREE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WERE BUILT IN AUGUSTA'S CONY VILLAGE. FUNDING WAS SECURED TO BUILD A 37 UNIT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT APARTMENT COMPLEX ON KING AND GOLD STREETS IN WATERVILLE.