SALT LAKE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM

UTAH COMMUNITY ACTION PROVIDES SERVICES DESIGNED TO ASSIST INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ON THE PATH TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE. THE AGENCY SERVES 51,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR SIX CORE PROGRAMS: HEAD START, ADULT EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT & HOUSING SERVICES, HEAT ENERGY ASSISTANCE, WEATHERIZATION, AND NUTRITION.HEAD START PROVIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE FOR OVER 1,999 VULNERABLE CHILDREN AGES 0-5. HEAD START IS A NO-COST, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES SCHOOL READINESS THROUGH ACADEMIC EDUCATION, HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND FAMILY WELL-BEING. WE DO THIS WHILE ENGAGING PARENTS AS PARTNERS IN THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR EARLY HEAD START CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST OF EARLY HEAD START AND CHILDCARE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE AND CONTINUOUS SERVICES TO INFANTS AND TODDLERS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, THEREBY EXPANDING HIGH-QUALITY CHILD-CARE OPTIONS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, HEAD START SERVED 1,563 CHILDREN AGES 3-5 AND EARLY HEAD START SERVED 437 CHILDREN AGES 0-3. ALMOST ALL OF THESE CHILDREN FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY RATE (APPROXIMATELY $30K FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR). THOSE WHO ARE OVER THE POVERTY THRESHOLD QUALITY FOR OUR PROGRAM DUE TO DISABILITY OR OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS FOR WHICH THEY NEED THE INTENSIVE RESOURCES WE PROVIDE. EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS SERVED 125 CHILDREN.

HOUSING & CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOCUS ON ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ACHIEVING SELF-RELIANCE THROUGH HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT. CLIENTS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO STABILIZE HOUSING, WHILE ENGAGING WITH OUR STAFF TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT, ACCESS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENSURE THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. - IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, UCA ASSISTED 1,294 HOUSEHOLDS, SERVING 3,844 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 384 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND 159 SENIORS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE PROVIDED MORE THAN $3.9 MILLION IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.IN ADDITION TO CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES, UCA PROVIDES THE COORDINATED INTAKE AND DIVERSION SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS SYSTEM IN SALT LAKE COUNTY AND STAFFS A COORDINATED INTAKE LINE FOR THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE LIVE BED LOCATION AND RESOURCES FOR CLIENTS, PROVIDERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. UCA BEGAN PROVIDING DIVERSION SERVICES--ASSISTING CLIENTS IDENTIFY OPTIONS ALTERNATIVE TO SHELTER--IN 2015 AT THE MIDVALE FAMILY SHELTER. WE HAVE SINCE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE DIVERSION SERVICES FOR ALL THE HOMELESS RESOURCE CENTERS IN ADDITION TO THE MIDVALE FAMILY SHELTER AND THE WEIGAND DAY CENTER. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, UCA CONDUCTED OVER 7,526 COORDINATED INTAKES AT SHELTER AND SUCCESSFULLY DIVERTED OVER 762 HOUSEHOLDS FROM SHELTER. FOR CLIENTS FOR WHOM DIVERSION IS NOT AN OPTION, UCA PROVIDES INTAKE INTO THE HOMELESS RESOURCE CENTERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, UCA STRENGTHENED ITS MEDIATION PROGRAM BY COLLABORATING WITH CLIENTS AND PARTNERS TO DELIVER TENANT EDUCATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES FOR CLIENTS WITH A 3-DAY PAY OR VACATE NOTICE. UCA PROVIDED MEDIATION SERVICES TO OVER 876 HOUSEHOLDS AND WAS ABLE TO ASSIST OVER 695 HOUSEHOLDS TO AVOID AN EVICTION. OUR MEDIATION TEAM ALSO PROVIDED TENANT EDUCATION SERVICES TO OVER 3,074 INDIVIDUALS.OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS CLIENTS IN ENHANCING THEIR JOB SKILLS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, OFFERING TARGETED MODULES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM INTENSIVE TRAININGS (STIT), DESIGNED TO EQUIP CLIENTS WITH SKILLS THAT LEAD TO LIVABLE WAGES. IN FY25, WE SERVED OVER 257 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH THE PROGRAM, WITH MORE THAN 176 HOUSEHOLDS COMPLETING JOB READINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES. ADDITIONALLY, 54 HOUSEHOLDS SECURED EMPLOYMENT, ACHIEVING AN AVERAGE WAGE INCREASE OF $2,397 PER MONTH. HEAT (HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE TARGET) IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES PAY THEIR ENERGY COSTS AND EDUCATE THEM ON ENERGY CONSERVATION TO DECREASE THEIR BILLS YEAR-ROUND. CRISIS ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY. THE AGENCY GIVES PRIORITY TO THE ELDERLY, DISABLED AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER. DURING THE 2023-2024 SEASON, HEAT ASSISTED 8,314 HOUSEHOLDS, REPRESENTING 22,159 INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH THIS SUPPORT, CLIENTS RECEIVED MORE THAN $4.16 MILLION IN UTILITY ASSISTANCE. THE AVERAGE HEAT BENEFIT WAS $501, WHILE THE AVERAGE CRISIS BENEFIT WAS $981. NUTRITION PROGRAMMING ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RANGING FROM INFANTS TO THE ELDERLY. SERVICES ARE COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUDE HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR ALL HEAD START CHILDREN AND OUR SUMMER DINNER PROGRAM PROVIDING FREE MEALS TO ALL CHILDREN AGES 0-18. IN FISCAL 2025, THROUGH OUR HEAD START CENTRAL KITCHEN WE SERVED 656,375 MEALS, PROVIDING NOT ONLY OUR HEAD START CHILDREN BUT ALSO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH 2/3 OF THEIR DAILY NUTRITIONAL VALUE. ADDITIONALLY, 4,120 MEALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE SUMMER DINNER PROGRAM.