KENTUCKY RIVER FOOTHILLS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS-AT EACH OF THE AGENCY'S FOUR OUTREACH OFFICES, STAFF WORK WITH FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL CRISES TO HELP MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT SIMILAR CRISES ARE LESS LIKELY. KRFDC PROVIDES ENERGY ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) EVERY FALL/WINTER AT ITS OUTREACH OFFICES. LIHEAP ASSISTS INCOME-ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH HOME HEATING COSTS THROUGH TWO PROGRAMS: LIHEAP SUBSIDY (TYPICALLY IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER) AND LIHEAP CRISIS (TYPICALLY JANUARY UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, OR UNTIL ALL FUNDS ARE EXPENDED). A THIRD COMPONENT TO HELP WITH SUMMER COOLING COSTS MAY BE OFFERED WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. LAST FY KRFDC PROVIDED 6,565 HOUSEHOLDS WITH SUBSIDY ASSISTANCE AND 3,456 HOUSEHOLDS WITH CRISIS ASSISTANCE. KRFDC PROVIDES FREE WEATHERIZATION SERVICES TO INCOME- ELIGIBLE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE THEIR HEATING/COOLING COSTS AND IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES. ON AVERAGE, WEATHERIZATION REDUCES ENERGY BILLS BY 20%. LAST FY KRFDC WEATHERIZED/REPAIRED 15 HOMES. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS- SINCE 2005, KRFDC HAS BEEN PROVIDING A WIDE ARRAY OF HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SERVICES TO ESTILL AND POWELL COUNTIES THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM, WHICH TAKES MEDICAL CARE OUT OF THE TRADITIONAL HOSPITAL-BASED SETTING AND BRINGS IT TO A POPULATION IN NEED OF HEALTH SERVICES. IN 2011, THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER OPENED IN CLAY CITY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF POWELL COUNTY. THIS 3,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY FEATURES FOUR EXAM ROOMS. SERVICES INCLUDE EXAMS, IMMUNIZATIONS, MEDICATIONS, AND REFERRALS. PERSONS MUST BE HOMELESS TO RECEIVE CARE THROUGH THE HCH PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES A SLIDING FEE SCALE AND ASSISTS PATIENTS WITH PAYMENT PLANS. THE CLINIC ALSO ACCEPTS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MOST PRIVATE INSURANCES. LAST FY KRFDC PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 2,237 PARTICIPANTS AND HAD 8,529 ENCOUNTERS. KRFDC OPERATES A SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) GRANT TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST VETERANS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY WITH HOUSING STABILITY. THE SSVF PROJECT PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP THEM OVERCOME HOUSING BARRIERS. ALL FORMS OF PAYMENT MADE BY SSVF GO DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD, UTILITY COMPANY OR THIRD-PARTY VENDOR ON BEHALF OF THE VETERAN. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID. LAST FY KRFDC PROVIDES PREVENTION ASSISTANCE TO 119 HOUSEHOLDS AND 248 INDIVIDUALS; THEY PROVIDED HOMELESS ASSISTANCE TO 111 HOUSEHOLDS AND 171 INDIVIDUALS.

EMPLOYMENT & ECON DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS- KRFDC'S TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, FOOTHILLS EXPRESS, GIVES RIDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. RIDERS CAN DEPEND ON COURTEOUS DRIVERS AND SAFE, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL, WORK, SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS, ADULT AND CHILD CARE CENTERS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND RECREATIONAL DESTINATIONS. IN ADDITION, FOOTHILLS EXPRESS PROVIDES SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, VOLUNTEER GROUPS, AND BUSINESSES WITH SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FOR OCCASIONS WHEN BUS TRANSPORTATION IS MORE EFFICIENT. FOOTHILLS EXPRESS OPERATES A PUBLIC DEVIATED-FIXED TRANSPORTATION ROUTE IN BEREA, RICHMOND, AND WINCHESTER. THESE STOPS INCLUDE STORES, APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, CITY AND COUNTY OFFICES, AND BUSINESSES. WHEELCHAIR ASSISTED DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FOR NO ADDITIONAL COST AND BULK PASSES ARE AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNTED RATE. THE MADISON CONNECTOR ROUTE OPERATES THROUGH THE WEEK AND LINKS THE CITIES OF BEREA AND RICHMOND. AFTER REACHING THEIR DESTINATION IN EITHER BEREA OR RICHMOND, RIDERS ARE ABLE TO CATCH A RIDE ON THE CITY TRANSIT ROUTES. FOOTHILLS EXPRESS ALSO PROVIDES A COMMUTER SERVICE FROM WINCHESTER AND RICHMOND TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE LEXINGTON AREA TO ASSIST EMPLOYEES IN GETTING TO THEIR WORKPLACES. CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THE LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND KRFDC, FOOTHILLS EXPRESS IS THE PROVIDER FOR CAMPUS TRANSIT SERVICES. LAST FY TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED 101,719 TRIPS.