At the newly weatherized home of Al-Lishia Jackson in Pontiac, Michigan, staff and contractors from the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA, a Community Action Agency) were the feature presenters at a public education event highlighting the many benefits of the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Congressman Gary Peters participated in the on-site demonstration, blowing some insulation product into Ms. Jackson’s attic. Several public officials, including Oakland County Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett, Barbara McCallahan from Senator Stabenow’s office, Holly Ravesloot from the U.S. Department of Energy and representatives from the Governor’s and Mayor’s offices attended the event. Two television stations carried the story on the evening news and two newspapers had reporters on site doing interviews. Our thanks to OLHSA CEO Ron Borngesser and OLHSA Associate Director for Public Relations Adela Knedlik for their superb organizational skills on short notice and to Jim Crisp, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Action Agency Association for his leadership. Arley Johnson and Rebecca Stewart from NASCSP (National Association for State Community Services Programs) and Don Mathis from the Partnership spoke briefly at the event.

Leon Brown, who works for Catalyst, a for-profit contracting firm that works with OLHSA using ARRA funds
to weatherize homes, explains the weatherization process to Congressman Gary Peters and spoke on
how the program helps families stay warm, reduce their energy costs, and helps provide jobs in the economically
hard-hit areas in Michigan

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National initiative turns into local success

Pontiac, Mich., April 9, 2010 – Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency’s (OLHSA) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) showcased a local success story in Pontiac, Mich. today.

Elected officials from several levels of government gathered at the home of Al-Lishia Jackson Thursday to get a first-hand view of the improvements made to the 1,000 square foot home. In attendance were Congressman Gary Peters (MI-09), Barbara McCallahan, representing Senator Debbie Stabenow, Holly Ravesloot from the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., Don Mathis, President of the National Community Action Partnership, also from Washington, D.C., along with Mattie McKinney Hatchett, Oakland County Commissioner (Dist. 10), representatives from Governor Granholm’s office, the Michigan Community Action Agency Association and the City of Pontiac.

Al-Lishia Jackson and her mother, whom she lives with, qualified for the Weatherization Assistance Program and have since received over $4,000 in energy-saving improvements to their home including a new furnace and enhanced insulation. Funding for the improvements came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Energy Optimization, a program mandated by state government.

Catalyst, the Pontiac based contracting company hired with ARRA funds to make the improvements, was on-site and demonstrated blowing a Michigan-made insulation product into the home’s attic. Leon Brown, aPontiac resident, is heading up the project for Catalyst and was on-site to show Congressman Peters and others how weatherization is working in Pontiac. “We are grateful to have an opportunity to improve the homes in our community, and one by one, make a difference in our neighbors’ lives,” says Brown.

Average energy savings after a home has been weatherized are 20 to 30 percent, which Jackson says she will use “to save, or do other good things with.”

Recognition of the energy-efficiency measures and local job creation was high on the agenda.

Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency is a Community Action Agency committed to providing education and resources that help the low-income, elderly, and those with disabilities become self-sufficient. Ninety programs provided over 270,000 services in 2009. Helping people. Changing lives. www.olhsa.org

 

Thanks to our colleagues at the National Housing Trust, we want all Community Action housing providers and advocates to know about tomorrow’s webinar.

On Tuesday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, the Center for Housing Policy will host a "Live at the Forum"event, during which Toby Halliday of the National Housing Trust will provide an overview of the Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act (H.R. 4868), a look ahead to the Committee markup expected next month, and answers to your questions about how the Act will help stabilize housing for some of the nation's poorest households.

• Part I: Hear about the legislation — The two-part event begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific) with a 30-minute conference call, where details about the legislation will be presented. The call-in number is (712) 432-1001 and the access code is 452746624#.

• Part II: Interact with the speaker — Toby Halliday will be online from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern (10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific) to answer your questions on the HousingPolicy.org Forum.

About the legislation
The Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act (H.R. 4868), introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, would make significant improvements in federal law to make it easier to preserve federally assisted rental housing that is at risk of loss or conversion and provide new protections to the people living in this housing. The bill was formally introduced in March and its major goals include (1) Providing resources and incentives to prevent the further loss of affordable housing units; (2) Preventing the displacement of disabled, elderly and other low-income tenants; (3) Preserving rural housing; and (4) Establishing a national database to further preservation. For additional background, visit the National Housing Trust web site.

If you have questions about the new health care reform bill that was recently passed into law, our great colleagues at Families USA are here to help.

The organization has created a new website, Health Reform Central, http://www.familiesusa.org/health-reform-central, which is designed to support advocates in implementing all of the new protections and opportunities that health reform will bring to states. A few highlights include:

• Understanding the new law
Health reform will drastically improve the lives of millions of Americans, but there are still so many people who do not understand what they stand to gain under the new law. This section provides materials developed to help advocates talk about the many ways that health reform will positively affect communities.

• Repeal efforts
Since the signing, opponents have been out in full force in an effort to repeal or weaken the new law. This section provides several pieces designed to address efforts to repeal the law or block implementation in states.

• Interactive state page
This portion of Health Reform Central offers state-by-state information about how many residents and small businesses will benefit from the new law, as well as how many would have been harmed had reform not passed.

Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, has invited Partnership President/CEO Don Mathis to a meeting on Thursday, April 22nd to discuss ways that the faith-based community and Community Action might work more closely together at all levels.

If your CAA is working closely with faith-based organizations in your community, region, or statewide, Don wants to brag about it. Just send a few sentences about what you do with which Faith-Based groups to benefit whoever to dmathis@communityactionpartnership.com. Don is looking for brief descriptions of your success with F-B organizations, how long you’ve been partnering; issues/problems/ human needs you all have addressed and any unique aspects of your work. If you prefer to discuss on the phone, call Don at 202-449-9774.

 

Thanks to our great colleagues at Jobs for America Now and the Coalition on Human Needs, the Partnership joined with hundreds of other national, statewide, and local organizations and groups in signing the letter below to House leadership in support of Congressman George Miller's bill. Other national groups that signed include: National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP), National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Half in Ten, Center for Law & Social Policy, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Coalition on Human Needs, Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, AFL-CIO, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Council of La Raza, Wider Opportunities for Women, Enterprise Community Partners, Food Research & Action Center, YouthBuild USA, the Corps Network, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and dozens of others. More than 300 state and local groups also signed on.

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April 16, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable James Clyburn
Majority Whip
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable John Larsen
Democratic Caucus Chair
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
Assistant to the Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable George Miller
Chairman, Education and Labor Committee
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, Democratic Caucus Chair Larsen, Assistant to the Speaker Van Hollen and Chairman Miller:

The undersigned organizations write to express our strong support for the Local Jobs for America Act (HR 4812), which would create a million public and private jobs in local communities. We applaud Congressman Miller for the introduction of this critical legislation.

Since the recession began in December 2007, the economy has lost over 8 million jobs, including many providing critical services in communities across the country. The current crisis of unemployment is devastating families all across America. March’s unemployment report revealed an overall jobless rate of 9.7 percent; among African-Americans the jobless rate was a staggering 16.5 percent, among Latinos, 12.6 percent, among women who head families, 11.3 percent, and among youth, 26.1 percent.

We need bold Congressional action in order to put Americans back to work and prevent more layoffs and cuts in crucial services. The Local Jobs for America Act will not only provide employment for hundreds of thousands of jobless workers, it will create and save jobs for workers who are providing services that our communities badly need.

The Local Jobs for America Act provides $100 billion over two years to create or save 750,000 jobs providing local services, and to save 250,000 education jobs. The funding will also keep 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat, allow localities to hire additional firefighters, and provide on-the-job training slots to help local businesses create employment opportunities. These jobs in turn will put money in the pockets of families, spurring demand in the economy and creating additional private-sector jobs and tax revenues.

Projections of a slow recovery in the labor market underscore the urgent need to create jobs now. Job-creation must precede short-term deficit reduction as lost tax revenue from joblessness is significantly exacerbating our nation’s fiscal problems. As local and national organizations who are witnessing firsthand the current crisis of unemployment and the increased need for services in the face of deep budget cuts, we believe that a bold response cannot wait.

We support quick passage of the Local Jobs for America Act to immediately put Americans back to work, in addition to meeting pressing needs in our communities.

 

Thanks to effective advocacy and outreach by our great colleagues at the Coalition on Human Needs, the Partnership has signed on to a letter that will go to all House Members and Senators in support of the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (for low-income college students). Local Community Action Agencies and CA state associations are invited to sign on as well.

Links to the letter and how to sign on appear below. Deadline for signing is Friday, April 30th. Here’s an easy way to affect public policy and help low-income people and working families cope with these tough economic times.

Does your organization care about helping low-income families to meet their basic needs?

Then please sign this letter to preserve and build upon tax credits for low-income children, working families, and students. Deadline: Friday, April 30.

To see the letter, CLICK HERE.
To sign the letter, CLICK HERE.

We are seeking local, state, and national organizations to sign this letter, which will be sent to every Representative and Senator in Congress. Congregations, service providers, labor, civil rights, social action, policy, and advocacy groups - we need you!

Poverty and hardship are rising across the nation. Tax credits can help families buy what they need, protecting children and boosting the economy too. The Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and American Opportunity Tax Credit (for low-income college students) can make a real difference in providing income to millions of families. But if Congress does not act, these tax credits will expire.

Why it matters: A family with two children with a parent working full-time at the minimum wage now receives about $1,750 from the Child Tax Credit. If the current tax credit law expires, this low-income family will lose $1,500 - and receive only $250. If the law expires, families with 3 or more children will lose up to $629 in their Earned Income Tax Credit. And, if the law expires, low-income students will lose up to $1,000 to help with their college expenses.

At a time when unemployment is high, and near depression levels among people with little education, in communities of color, and in some urban and rural areas, this is no time to drastically reduce the help low-income tax credits provide.

The voices of local, state, and national organizations are needed to show Congress very strong support for preserving and improving these tax credits. Please add your voice by signing this letter - and forward this request to other organizations.

Congress will act on extending tax cuts for the middle class, and must also decide about tax cuts for the rich and for business interests. Please make sure they remember the millions of low-income families who need help the most - and whose help provides the biggest economic boost.

Thanks! Please read the letter!

 

Avril Weisman and Barbara Miller, Executive Director,
Community Action Southwest and Chair of the
PA CAAP Conference Committee

 

The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) held their Annual Conference, “Charting the Course,” April 6-8, in Harrisburg, PA. The Conference included a varied and stimulating line-up of general sessions and workshops, in tracks such as Asset Development; Leadership Development; Resource Development; and Employment & Training. A highlight of the Conference was the Self-Sufficiency Awards, where CAAP recognized 23 individuals from 22 CAAs for their ability to work with Community Action to become self-sufficient.

Community Action Partnership sponsored the General Session speaker, Duane Knapp. Knapp, who has worked with the Partnership since 2001 on developing and implementing the Community Action Brand Promise, energized the attendees with a presentation entitled: “You are Only as Good as Your Promise.” The General Session was followed by a 90 minute workshop that gave practical, on-the-ground tips on putting the Community Action Promise to work and making it a reality for every person who works with Community Action. The audience was extremely engaged and Knapp’s presentation illustrated his knowledge of and great admiration for Community Action. Avril Weisman, Community Action Partnership Vice-President introduced Duane Knapp at the Wednesday morning Plenary Session.

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

September 1st seems like a long way from now – but it is closer than we think! We have just over 4 months remaining to put together an outstanding Community Action Partnership Annual Convention: Community Action: The Power of Partnerships. Click here to download a form. Presentation proposals must be received by April 30, 2010.

We want to have YOUR “Call for Presentations” form submitted to us by April 30th. Highlight your program; best practice; management strategies; partnership, and more.

• Job Creation & Green Jobs
• Community Economic Development
• Head Start & Education
• Asset Development
• Energy and Weatherization
• Public Relations/Social Media
• Housing and Homeless Prevention
• Management and Organizational Development

The Boston Marriott is selling quickly. Please register now, either on-line or by calling
1 (800) 228-9290 to assure your great room rate of $189.00 single or double.

Watch upcoming issues of the eNews and our website convention page for detailed information and registration.

To view or download the 2010 Annual Convention Brochure, click here.