Mid Michigan Community Action Agency (Mid Michigan CAA), is expanding services to low-income individuals and families in Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Mecosta, Midland, and Osceola Counties with programs aimed at giving households a hand up toward self-sufficiency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mid Michigan CAA is a non-profit that has been serving central Michigan communities since 1966. The organization’s mission is to guide local residents on the path to self-sufficiency through empowerment, education and community enrichment. Services will initially include housing stability support, food assistance, and critical needs assistance. Eligible households may receive help with past-due mortgage payments, late property taxes, food vouchers, water shut-offs, and other household emergencies. The goal is to help alleviate a household crisis while also identifying a path toward self-sufficiency. "We are eager to begin offering critical services during an unprecedented crisis. We are looking forward to working with our community partner organizations to help meet the needs of low-income households," said Executive Director Jill Sutton. To speak with staff about assistance available, email us at [email protected] or call the office nearest you: Bay City: 989-894-9060, Big Rapids: 231-660-0271, Farwell: 989-386-3805, Gladwin: 989-426-2801, Midland: 989-832-7377, or Reed City: 231-791-7078. Due to ongoing social distancing measures appointments may be taken over the phone. “For now, we will provide most services remotely. It’s a challenging time, but we feel strongly that making services available as soon as we can will help local residents toward recovery from the pandemic challenges,” Sutton added.
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(Okemos, MI, June 3, 2020) The Community Action movement was formed in the crucible of the Civil Rights era of the 1960s to fight poverty at the local level. Our movement is part of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., President Lyndon B. Johnson, and countless community activists who envisioned an empowered, community-centered way to fight poverty and cultivate economic opportunity. The struggles of our nation and our world today to cope with the legacies of systemic racism and the violence of economic and social inequality are increased by the COVID-19 crisis. Members of our anti-poverty movement are on the frontlines of our communities in our war against poverty. We've witnessed first-hand the result of disinvestment in education, affordable housing, lack of access to healthcare, and the explosive growth of mass incarceration. We've witnessed how disinvestment in human beings harms the resilience of our communities, families, and individuals, and especially harms those who are vulnerable to systemic racism. Despite our efforts and the efforts our partners in non-profits, government, and business, the gaps in our social safety net continue to widen. Life expediencies are decreased and upward social mobility is further and further out of reach for poor children, and especially black and brown children born in poverty. Racism impoverishes us all. It breaks the bonds of the social contract, and crushes our potential to truly thrive and make our communities places of opportunity and peace. There can be no peace without accountability and reconciliation. It is not enough to condemn racism, we must be actively anti-racist and ready to do the work as advocates and leaders. We stand with our partners: community leaders and activists, elected officials, and non-profit leaders and foundations who are ready to roll up their sleeves to enact reforms that will help our communities, families and individuals to heal from the trauma of racism and inequality. About Michigan Community Action: Michigan Community Action is the state association for the 28 designated Community Action Agencies in Michigan. We are part of a national network of over 1,000 local organizations that help people move from poverty to economic stability and self-sufficiency. Our mission is to strengthen and inspire Community Action Agencies to champion solutions to poverty and to promote economic opportunity and stability for all. Our network is united by the promise of Community Action, which changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Chong-Anna Canfora Executive Director, Michigan Community Action Michigan Community Action Board of Directors: Jill Sutton, Board Chair | Michelle Williamson, Vice President | Kerri Duff, Treasurer | Toby Berry | Lisa Evans | Michelle LaJoie | Melinda Johnson | Doug McFadden | Mary Ann Neopolitan | Matt Purcell
Clare County has been awarded $14,586, and an additional $20,796 via the CARES Act; Gladwin County has been awarded $11,682, and an additional $16,655 via the CARES Act; Mecosta County has been awarded $17,345, and an additional $24,729 via the CARES Act; and Osceola County has been awarded $9,069, and an additional $12,930 via the CARES Act, from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
A Local Board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The Local Boards will determine how the funds awarded to each county are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Clare County: Cherri Swanstra, Clare County EFSP Board Chair, at [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 10:00am via Zoom. Gladwin County: Cherri Swanstra, Gladwin County EFSP Board Chair, at [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 9:00am via Zoom. Mecosta County: Diane Long, Mecosta County EFSP Board Co-Chair, at [email protected]. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 1:00pm via Zoom. Osceola County: Malinda Coss, Osceola County EFSP Board Co-Chair, [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 2:00pm via Zoom. Attendance for new applicants is required. Mid Michigan Community Action Agency (Mid Michigan CAA) is expanding to serve low-income individuals and families in Muskegon and Oceana Counties with programs aimed at giving households a hand up toward self-sufficiency.
Mid Michigan CAA is a non-profit that has been serving central Michigan communities since 1966. The organization’s mission is to guide local residents on the path to self-sufficiency through empowerment, education and community enrichment. Services will initially include housing stability support, food assistance, and critical needs assistance. Eligible households may receive help with past-due mortgage payments, late property taxes, food vouchers, water shut-offs, and other household emergencies. The goal is to help alleviate a household crisis while also identifying a path toward self-sufficiency. "We are eager to begin offering critical services to Muskegon and Oceana Counties during an unprecedented crisis. We are looking forward to building partnerships with other organizations to help meet the needs of low-income households," said Executive Director Jill Sutton. While the timing of the expansion coincides with the coronavirus pandemic, the agency plans to serve the counties over the long term. “We hope to be a part of the recovery and establish a long term presence in these communities” Sutton said. To speak with staff about assistance available, call 231-660-0271 or email us at [email protected]. Due to ongoing social distancing measures and the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order in-person services are not yet available. “Once the shelter in place order is lifted, we will begin the process of securing office space and hiring local staff, but for now, we will provide services remotely from existing offices in nearby counties. It’s a challenging time, but we feel strongly that making services available as soon as we can will help local residents toward recovery from the pandemic challenges,” Sutton added. |
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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 [email protected] FOOD WAREHOUSE 2300 E Ludington Drive Clare, MI 48617 989-229-0849 [email protected] |
BAY COUNTY
114 South Washington Avenue Bay City, MI 48708 Phone: 989-894-9060 [email protected] GLADWIN COUNTY 1302 Chatterton Street Gladwin, MI 48624 Phone: 989-426-2801 [email protected] MECOSTA COUNTY 14330 Northland Drive Big Rapids, MI 49307 Phone: 231-660-0271 [email protected] MIDLAND COUNTY 1717 Ridgewood Drive, Suite 103 Midland, MI 48642 Phone: 989-832-7310 [email protected] |
MUSKEGON COUNTY
878 Jefferson Street, Suite 2 Muskegon, MI 49440 Phone: 231-557-7622 [email protected] OCEANA COUNTY 907 S State Street Suite 102 Hart, MI 49420 Phone: 231-923-3066 [email protected] OSCEOLA COUNTY 240 E Church Street Reed City, MI 49677 Phone: 231-791-7078 [email protected] |