WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

WEST CENTRAL'S HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) PROGRAM: PROVIDED OVER 989 HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN DECENT, SAFE, AND SANITARY HOUSING OF THEIR CHOICE. PARTICIPANTS OF THE HCV PROGRAM ARE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOUSING FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS APPROXIMATELY 141 FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS IN ORDER TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.

COMMUNITY SERVICES SERVED 1,394 INDIVIDUALS IN 655 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 97 PERCENT OF THEM ACHIEVING ONE OR MORE OUTCOMES. EIGHTY-ONE PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED WITH WCMCAA REPORTED IMPROVED FINANCIAL WELL-BEING TOWARD ACHIEVING ECONOMIC SECURITY. NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF ENROLLED SENIORS 65+ AND 100 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING. ONE NEW INITIATIVE CALLED "WORKFORCE YOU" WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN ADDRESSING WORKFORCE BARRIERS IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY BUSINESSES. FROM THAT INITIATIVE THERE WAS A PARTICIPANT KICK-OFF WHERE 50 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED, A PARTNER KICK-OFF WHERE 37 COMMUNITY PARTNERS ATTENDED, A STEERING COMMITTEE WAS FORMED, FIVE FOCUS GROUPS WERE FORMED, AND THERE WAS ONE CHILDCARE SUMMIT CONDUCTED. EIGHT COMMUNITY PARTNER MOUS WERE ESTABLISHED TO WORK JOINTLY AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE FOSTER CARE SIMULATION WITH 14 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING. ONE STEP UP TO LEADERSHIP CLASS TOOK PLACE DURING THE YEAR, WITH 100 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS INCREASING SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ACTION TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.