Notice of Public Comment for Proposed Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Plan

2/17/2022

Mid Michigan Community Action is accepting public comments as required by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on the proposed Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) plan from February 21, 2022- March 21, 2022.

The CSBG Plan summary is as detailed below:

A total of $600,009 will be allocated for the provision of comprehensive planning and coordinated services to eligible low-income persons in Muskegon and Oceana Counties. Services will include but are not limited to housing stability, home loss prevention, employment support, and material assistance vouchers. Services are to be provided over the course of the contract starting March 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2022.

Individuals or organizations wanting to comment on or review the proposed plan should email contactus@mmcaa.org or call Eva Rohlman at 989-386-3805 ext. 1033 no later than 4:30 PM on March 21st. Materials are available in alternative formats by calling 989-386-3805 ext. 1033 or emailing contactus@mmcaa.org

3 Comments

Locations

CLARE COUNTY
Administrative Office
1574 E Washington Road
PO Box 768
Farwell, MI 48622
Phone 989-386-3805
Toll-Free 1-877-213-5948
Fax 989-386-3277
contactus@mmcaa.org

FOOD WAREHOUSE
2300 E Ludington Drive
Clare, MI 48617
contactus@mmcaa.org

WIC CLINIC
337 Lemke Street
Midland, MI 48642
Phone 989-832-7310
Toll-Free 1-877-210-3169
WIC@mmcaa.org
contactus@mmcaa.org

BAY COUNTY
114 South Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: 989-894-9060
contactus@mmcaa.org

GLADWIN COUNTY
1302 Chatterton Street
Gladwin, MI 48624
Phone: 989-426-2801
contactus@mmcaa.org

MIDLAND COUNTY
1409 Washington Street
Midland, MI 48640
Phone: 989-832-7377
contactus@mmcaa.org

MECOSTA COUNTY
14330 Northland Drive
Big Rapids MI 49307
Phone: 231-660-0271
contactus@mmcaa.org

OSCEOLA COUNTY
240 E Church Street
Reed City, MI 49677
Phone: 231-791-7078
contactus@mmcaa.org

MUSKEGON COUNTY
878 Jefferson Street, Suite 2
Muskegon, MI 49440
Phone: 231-557-7622
contactus@mmcaa.org

OCEANA COUNTY
907 S State Street Suite 102
Hart, MI 49420
Phone: 231-923-3066
contactus@mmcaa.org

christopher m kubiak

3/20/2022 09:04:42 pm

Comment for State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Block Grant to Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency

I, Christopher Kubiak, am a veteran in their SSVF program in Saginaw County. I am not a therapist or social worker. I was not paid to do this commentary. I am in the program with my 6 year old daughter. I had a 683 and going up FICA with regular income until a complex rented my place under me and then due to related complications my graduate education program fell through. They paid for a hotel stay for us for 60 days. I think that the current housing environment would necessitate at least 90-120 days for a hotel. I developed a form for veterans to hand in that contained all of the important information for a housing and employment search. It was never used in approving my searches due to network problems. I kept my emails regardless. It doesn't matter how it is arranged, but the form organized the data better than typing everything into an email without any topological organization. It also facilitated the approval process because they prefer you get approval from them BEFORE you apply anywhere. You send in your searches each day or week, depending on the circumstances. Our worker needed training in increasing client autonomy. She wanted me to find a job which is always a good idea, but did not have resources to help with the lack of transportation, with childcare needs, with resume writing, and had no support for helping me get to work if I did get hired. We we offered a grocery cart for shopping but little action on dealing with car repairs. We ended up trusting the VA to help with this and became stranded. They could also use training on empowering clients through their MDHHS portal, MI Works, groceries sources, temporary lodging for pets, plasma donation for cash, part-time immediate payment jobs, local charity sources, free phones, computer resources, vehicle donations or repairs, credit repair, housing co-signing, income sources while homeless, more hotel vendors, credit repair (Homelessness can sometimes mean unpaid debts and bankruptcy. It happened to me) and help for paying application fees. I was faulted with being a graduate student instead of working full-time. I think improving yourself is the best idea at 50 when changing career fields. As long as someone is supporting their family responsibly and legally, who's business is it?
The workers could use training in the Better Lives Model of rehabilitation (Psychology) which focuses on positivity, problem resolution, conflict defusing, relationship improvement, and a positive futuristic outlook while resolving conflict in the here and now. Families who are homeless, especially those who are suddenly homeless, will have emotional needs as well as many material needs. They need to be placed in safe places with regular check ups and regular meetings to regain their autonomy. Social workers should NOT be focused on being “representatives” or meeting with other workers without putting the client in the loop. Clients should be set up to succeed and get off the program, not get off the program in the same situation that got them on it. This wastes funds that Michigan taxpayers work hard to produce. Homelessness should never necessitate Disability, Civil commitment, stranding, or Guardianship. Homelessness is not a mental health diagnosis (learn from this VA), it is a social support network problem, and for some an income problem. I had no family to help us get on our feet after this and MMCAA SSVF stepped up to help us at least in lodging. I hope my comments can help them to improve the workers, improve the program, and with evidence of improvement increase the funding. There is much potential here and it is a great program in need of a little more training and resources. I have so much more to say good and bad, but space is limited.

3/21/2022 07:45:18 pm

Breanne knows a lot of stuff so she would be a good person to receive up to date training and advancement. She is new to case management so training her more would benefit everyone. There is a lot of potential with the agency and they already help so many people. I see giving them training funds and more resources to locate help for veterans will only benefit everyone, I think that these comments could be used to help write more beneficial program rules that conserve funding while helping clients. The grant has many ambiguities and it would help everyone if evidence based statistics would be used to write client related policy. They would be used to help as many people as possible with realistic policies that benefit taxpayers and clients. This is well spent money on a grant as long as there is more training and the ambiguity made more transparent. They help people here. I wish you all well.

Mid Michigan Community Action link

3/22/2022 08:34:08 am

Good morning Christopher,

Thank you for your detailed comments. Our leadership team has received them and will review them

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Notice of Public Comment for Proposed Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Plan

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