MID-KANSAS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INC

MID-KS CAP WAS AWARDED 303,000 FROM HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) THROUGH THE BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE GRANT. MID-KS CAP WORKS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE THEIR HOUSING CRISIS THROUGH THE EFFICIENT USE OF A POOL OF AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE HOUSING AND BEYOND PROJECT UTILIZES RAPID REHOUSING DOLLARS FROM THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) PROGRAM TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND /OR INDIVIDUALS IN BUTLER, HARVEY, RENO, MARION, SUMNER, AND COWLEY COUNTIES IN KANSAS. THE GOAL IS TO QUICKLY OBTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. ONCE HOUSING IS SECURED SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM SERVICES, DEPENDING ON CUSTOMER NEEDS, AND ACCESSING COMMUNITY LINKAGES TO SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT UNTIL THE ATTAINMENT OF HOUSING STABILITY. THIS PROJECT SERVES HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND/OR FAMILIES THAT HAVE OBSTACLES THAT PREVENT OBTAINING PERMANENT HOUSING. SERVICES PROVIDED MAY INCLUDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUDGET COUNSELING, LANDLORD ADVOCACY, AND LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THE FAMILY TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A MANNER THAT ENHANCES THE FAMILY'S STABILITY, RESPECTS THE FAMILY'S UNIQUENESS, AND ENABLES THE FAMILY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PERMANENT HOME. HOUSING IS A PRIMARY GOAL OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AFTERCARE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE NEEDED; HOWEVER, IT CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES. DURING A ONE-YEAR PERIOD, EACH FAMILY WILL BE PART OF A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES MENTORING, INCREASING INCOME, INCREASING EDUCATION IF NEEDED, FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, AND OPTIONAL CLASSES SUCH AS PARENTING, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ETC. CSBG FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE MATCH REQUIREMENT OF THIS AWARD. THE AGENCY ASSISTED 258 INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE PERMANENT HOUSING. THE CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH CONSISTS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, SCREENING AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT. FAMILIES WHO HAVE BECOME HOMELESS HAVE IMMEDIATE TRAUMA SITUATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATED, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER. THERE IS A SCREENING OF THE CHALLENGES AND RESOURCES THAT WILL AFFECT A RE-HOUSING PLAN. THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO HELP FAMILIES ACCESS AND SUSTAIN HOUSING INCLUDES WORKING WITH THE CLIENT TO IDENTIFY AFFORDABLE UNITS, ACCESS HOUSING SUBSIDIES, AND NEGOTIATE LEASES. CLIENTS MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS, SUCH AS POOR TENANT HISTORY, CREDIT HISTORY, AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON ETHNICITY, GENDER, FAMILY MAKE-UP, AND INCOME SOURCE. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY WORKERS NEED ASSISTANCE TO IDENTIFY LANDLORDS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE PROGRAM AND ENGAGE IN STRATEGIES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION. MID-KS CAP OPERATES 24 LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNITS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN TO REMAIN IN COMMUNITIES, THUS RAISING THE SCHOOL TAX BASE. IT HAS BEEN NOTED BY THE AGENCY THAT PLACING A NEW HOME IN A RUNDOWN AREA TENDS TO IMPROVE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE KEY TO REACHING SELF-RELIANCE. TENANTS IN LOW-INCOME RENTAL UNITS ARE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON CREATING CREDIT AND CREDIT REPAIR. TENANTS ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE HOUSING UNIT THEY OCCUPY AND PROVIDED WITH THE TOOLS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.WHITEWATER AND EUREKA CITIES HAVE BOTH IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS. THE AGENCY WILL BE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DEVELOP PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, BASED ON THE URGENT AND WIDESPREAD NEEDS AFFECTING ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, SERVICES FOCUSED ON THE PANDEMIC CRISIS AND EMERGED BASED ON ECONOMIC AND HEALTH CRISES. THE EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC WERE IMMEDIATE, AND PROFOUND AND CONTINUE TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. MID-KS CAP WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING AND INCREASE CAPACITY TO ASSIST 546 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WERE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES DUE TO HEALTH CARE, UNEMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS, AND OTHER SERVICES IDENTIFIED RESULTING FROM COVID-19. THE AGENCY ALSO EXPANDED DIRECT SERVICES TO MANAGE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND BASIC NEEDS (FOOD, RENT, UTILITIES, COMMUNICATION, AND HEALTH CARE). COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WERE CREATED AND MAINTAINED TO MEET A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT. MANY RURAL AREAS HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO FOOD AND IN SOME CASES ARE IN A FOOD DESERT. PARTNERSHIPS WERE DEVELOPED WITH FOOD PANTRIES AND FARMER'S MARKETS TO PROVIDE FOOD AND PROMOTE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS. PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. MID-KS CAP RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 10,000 CALLS AND APPLICATIONS SEEKING ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL INQUIRIES. AS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES CONTINUE, THE AGENCY PROVIDED MULTIPLE SERVICES TO 1000 INDIVIDUALS AND/OR FAMILIES. THESE SERVICES ARE EMERGENCY SUPPORT SUCH AS RENT, UTILITIES, FOOD, CLOTHING, INSURANCE, PRESCRIPTIONS, DENTAL CARE, AND VISION. AS WELL AS OTHER SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIED. IN ADDITION TO MEETING AN URGENT CRISIS, EFFORTS ALSO CONSISTED OF THE LONG-TERM WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THESE ARE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS, JOB SEARCHING, AND JOB-KEEPING SKILLS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, IMPROVING LITERACY SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. EACH INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY IS UNIQUE, AND A UNIQUE PLAN IS TAILORED TO THEIR SITUATION WHICH LEADS TO SELF-RELIANCE.