Capstone Community Action Inc

WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING RESILIENT HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES AND TO ADVANCING JUSTICE IN SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MOVE BEYOND POVERTY. THROUGH ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, WE CHAMPION POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE. WE GUIDE PEOPLE TO HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR OWN TRANSFORMATION AND PROMOTE A VISION OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (HEAD START)CAPSTONE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PREPARE OVER 300 YOUNG CHILDREN FOR FUTURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE THROUGH THE OEPRATION OF LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND PROVISION OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES. IN ADDITION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THE AGENCY PROVIDES PARENT EDUCATION, PARENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, MEAL INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES, HEALTH, DENTAL AND NUTRITION SERVICES, DISABILITY SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND RESOURCE AND REFERRAL FOR OTHER NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES. HEAD START'S THE LEARNING TOGETHER CENTER (LTC) IS A MODEL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM FOR TEEN PARENT EDUCATION, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT. LOCATED IN BARRE'S HISTORICAL BROOKSIDE SCHOOL, LTC STRIVES TO BREAK THE BARRIERS OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY FOR AT RISK YOUNG FAMILIES.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (FCSS) PROVIDES CRISIS ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOUSING, UTILITIES AND HOME HEATING FUEL. FCSS PROVIDES 24/7 COVERAGE DURING THE WINTER SEASON TO ENSURE A LACK OF FUEL DOES NOT CREATE UNSAFE HOME CONDITIONS FOR LOW INCOME VERMONTERS. THIS YEAR, WE SUBSIDIZED $123,000 OF EMERGENCY FUEL COSTS FOR VERMONTERS UNABLE TO AFFORD FUEL IN THE HARSH WINTER SEASON. WITHIN THIS PANDEMIC, CAPSTONE'S HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORTED VERMONTERS LIVNG IN MOTELS, ENCAMPMENTS OR IN THEIR CARS. OUR COVID RELATED HOUSING SERVICES WERE CRITICAL TO KEEP HOMELESS VERMONTERS IN SAFE TEMPORARY SHELTER. CAPSTONE STAFF PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HOMELESS ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO KEEP THEM SECURELY HOUSED. WE FIND HOUSING, VOUCHERS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR GUESTS AND COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A WIDE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES. AFTER HOUSING, CCA STAFF PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT CONNECTIONS TO HELP PEOPLE STAY HOUSED SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE LONG TERM.

WEATHERIZATIONCAPSTONE'S WEATHERIZATION TEAM IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFCIENCY AND COST SAVINGS FOR LOW INCOME VERMONTERS. WE CONDUCT HOME ENERGY AUDITS, ADDED INSULATION, DRAFT REDUCTION, HEATING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING, HOT WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT OR INSULATION, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS EMERGENCY HEATING SYSTEM REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS TO ENSURE PROPER SAFETY AND FUNCTIONING OF HOME HEATING SYSTEMS. 3E THERMAL (FORMERLY VERMONT FUEL EFFICIENCY PARTNERSHIP) CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OWNERS OF MULTI-UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, COMFORT AND SAFETY OF THOSE OCCUPYING THEIR RENTAL UNITS. WORKING IN COVID SAFE TEAMS, WE WEATHERIZED 299 HOMES, LOWERING AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USE AND CREATING HEALTHIER HOMES WHILE REDUCING CLIMATE IMPACT.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CED) OUR CED PROGRAMS DELIVER SERVICES TO LOW INCOME VERMONTERS TO ADDRESS FOOD AND FINANCIAL INSECURITY. OUR FOOD PROGRAMS STEM THE TIDE OF RISING FOOD INSECURITY FOR LOW INCOME VERMONTERS. WE OPERATE THE LARGEST FOOD SHELF IN THE CENTRAL VERMONT REGION THIS YEAR, WE SERVED 1,982 PREPARED MEALS AND PROVIDED HEALTHY FOOD TO HUNGRY VERMONTERS IN 4,037 VISITS. WE BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR RURAL VERMONTERS WITH DELIVERY TO SELECT COMMUNITY SITES, SUCH AS A PARENT CHILD/HEALTH CENTERS. OUR PARTNERSHIP FOOD PROGRAM, EVERYONE EATS, DELIVERS MEALS TO HOMELESS GUESTS IN THE MOTELS, TOWN CENTERS, HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AND ISOLATED SENIORS. THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA RESTAURANTS, DELIVERED 122,000 MEALS TO HUNGRY VERMONTERS IN OUR SERVICE AREA. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM HELPED TO INVEST BACK INTO THE VERMONT ECONOMY, WITH 33% OF THE PURCHASED INGREDIENTS COMING DIRECTLY FROM VERMONT FARMERS AND PRODUCERS. OTHER SUPPORT FOOD PROGRAMS INCLUDES OUR CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM, THAT HELPED 120 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO OFFER NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO 1,088 KIDS ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE MICRO BUSINESS COUNSELING, TAX ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL COACHING. MICROBUSINESS COUNSELING ASSISTS SELF-EMPLOYED LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS IN BUSINESSES BASICS AND PLANNING. CAPSTONE ASSISTED 60 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BY HELPING THEM ACCESS $755,000 IN FINANCING, LOANS AND GRANTS IN 2021-22 AND COUNSELED 224 ENTREPRENEURS. CAPSTONE PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL COACHING THROUGH ITS SAVINGS AND CREDIT PROGRAM, HELPING INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP BUDGETS, IMPROVE CREDIT AND BUILD SAVINGS. THIS YEAR, OUR FINANCIAL COACHING PROGRAM PROVIDED 285 INDIVIDUALS EDUCATION IN HOUSEHOLD BUDGETING, DEBT REDUCTION AND SAVINGS. CAPSTONE'S MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY CURRICULUM AND PROVIDES EARNED INCOME IN SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WHERE THEIR EFFORTS ARE MATCHED BY 1 FOR EVERY $1 DEPOSITED, ACCRUING ASSETS FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, VEHICLE PURCHASE OR HOME OWNERSHIP.OUR NEW PROGRAM, GREENSAVINGSMART, WORKED WITH 34 PEOPLE TO MANAGE FINANCES AND REDUCE ENERGY USAGE. HOUSING (PROSPECT FOREST):CAPSTONE PROVIDES NINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN TWO BUILDINGS (HUD SECTION 8) IN RANDOLPHL VERMONT CALLED PROSPECT FOREST HOMES. THIS GROUP OF FUNDS HOLDS THE PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT USED TO PROVIDETHESE HOUSING UNITS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CKA):CAPSTONE'S COMMUNITY KITCHEN ACADEMY (CKA) OFFERS LOW INCOME VERMONTERS TRAINING FOR A CULINARY CAREER, STUDENTS ATTEND A 12 WEEK COURSE TO LEARN BASIC CULINARY SKILLS, FOOD SERVICE AND SAFETY, AND GENERAL JOB SKILLS, DESPITE THE PERSISTING PANDEMIC ECONOMY, 21 PEOPLE GRADUATED FROM CKA. TRANSPORTATION CLIMATE:OUR TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE PROGRAMS CONTINUES TO EXPAND CONSIDERABLY IN NEW AND EXCITING DIRECTIONS. OUR MILEAGE SMART PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS OF UP TO $5,000 FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO SWITCH TO HIGH EFFICIENCY CARS. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S LAUNCH, 584 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE MILEAGE SMART PROGRAM AND ARE NOW DRIVING A GAS HYBRID OR ELECTRIC VEHICLE PURCHASED USED FROM A LOCAL CAR DEALER. CAPSTONE IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY RIDES, A NEW MOBILITY AND EQUITY PROJECT WHICH WILL ACQUIRE A FLEET OF ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO SERVE AS A RIDE HAILING SERVICE FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTSWITH A FUNDING PARTNER, CAPSTONE LAUNCHED SCRUMPITOUS SIDES, A NEW ADDITION TO OUR FOOD DELIVERY BOXES. THE NEW PROGRAM WILL PURCHASE FRESH VEGETABLES AND INCLUDE RECIPES IN THE FOOD BOXES TO EXPAND THE HEALTHY EATING COMPONENT OF THE DELIVERY SERVICE. CAPSTONE LAUNCHED A NEW LANDLORD LIAISON POSITION DESIGNED TO IMPROVE LANDLORD SUPPORT AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPTIONS IN LAMOILLE COUNTY. THE LANDLORD LIAISON IS COMPILING A COUNTY INVENTORY OF RENTAL UNITS AND SUPPORTING LANDLORDS WITH INFORMATION AND REFERRAL TO STATE PROGRAMS TO REHAB UNUSED PROPERTY INTO HOUSING.