Community Action Committee Of The Lehigh Valley Inc

THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY BY BUILDING A COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, THE ABILITY TO PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF LEHIGH VALLEY AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA DISTRIBUTED A RECORD 11.8 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO OUR NETWORK OF MORE THAN 200 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES OF CARBON, LEHIGH, MONROE, NORTHAMPTON, PIKE AND WAYNE, COMPLEMENTING THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 60,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH (AND UP TO 80,000 A MONTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC). MORE THAN 50,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FOOD THROUGH THE EMERGENCY PANTRY NETWORK, WITH THE REST BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH FOOD PROVIDERS SUCH AS DAYCARE CENTERS SERVING LOW- INCOME FAMILIES, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS AND REHABILITATION CENTERS SERVING PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WEATHERIZATION WEATHERIZED 369 HOMES, INCLUDING RESIDENCE-SPECIFIC PRESSURE DIAGNOSTICS, INSULATING ATTICS AND BASEMENTS, CAULKING, WEATHER-STRIPPING, REPAIRING DOORS AND WINDOWS, REPLACING SOME HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, REPAIRING AND REPLACING DAMAGED HEATING SYSTEMS. COMPLETED REPAIRS TO 13 HOMES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED FROM WEATHERIZATION SERVICES DUE TO STRUCTURAL OR MOISTURE ISSUES THROUGH THE LIHEAP DEFERRAL PROGRAM. REPAIRED OR REPLACED 188 HEATING SYSTEMS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS THROUGH THE FEDERAL LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. COMPLETED 75 PPL WRAP INSPECTIONS IN WHICH CACLV WEATHERIZATION SPECIALISTS CHECKED WORK COMPLETED BY OTHER CONTRACTORS AND DISCUSSED ENERGY-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES WITH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

SIXTH STREET SHELTER/TURNER STREET APARTMENTS/FERRY STREET APARTMENTS PROVIDED 25,762 NIGHTS OF SHORT-TERM HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO 106 FAMILIES CONSISTING OF 324 PEOPLE (INCLUDING 232 CHILDREN, 109 OF WHOM WERE FIVE AND UNDER). SEVENTY-SIX (76%) OF FAMILIES MOVED INTO STABLE HOUSING. PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO 22 FAMILIES ENROLLED IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AT TURNER STREET APARTMENTS AND FERRY STREET APARTMENTS (OUR 24-MONTH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS IN ALLENTOWN AND EASTON, RESPECTIVELY) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VALLEY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE LEHIGH COUNTY AND EASTON PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. ALL 27 ADULTS WERE ENROLLED IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, GED, OR POST- SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

CAMPAIGN FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC JUSTICE CONDUCTED OVER 70 IMPLICIT BIAS AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING SESSIONS, RACIAL CONVERSATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AS PART OF THE EFFORT TO CREATE THE COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES RACIAL EQUITY AND DIVERSITY PLAN FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY. COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES IS A COALITION OF OVER 20 COMMUNITY LEADERS COMMITTED TO FINDING A WAY TO TALK ABOUT RACE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN AN INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE MANNER AND TO INSIST ON GETTING FAIR ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. OFFERED GENERATION NEXT TO 236 UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BETHLEHEM AND EASTON WITH PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO HELP THEM BECOME THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO BE ADMITTED TO COLLEGE AND TO THRIVE ONCE THERE; 93% OF SENIORS IN THE PROGRAM WERE COLLEGE-BOUND IN THE FALL OF 2020. OFFERED SHE (SHE HAS EVERYTHING) TO 44 GIRLS IN GRADES FIVE THROUGH EIGHT USING PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO ASSIST UNDERSERVED GIRLS IN MAKING THE SOCIAL TRANSITION FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A CURRICULUM BASED ON HEALTHY DECISION-MAKING, DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, ENDING BULLYING, GOAL SETTING, THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER PLANNING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. COMMUNITY ACTION, BETTER HOMES PURCHASED THREE HOUSES IN NEED OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT AT 308 SOUTH MAIN STREET IN BANGOR AND 25-27 WILLOW AVENUE IN SLATINGTON WITH FUNDING SUPPORT FROM NORTHAMPTON AND LEHIGH COUNTIES, RESPECTIVELY. PURCHASED THREE HOUSES IN NEED OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT AT 308 SOUTH MAIN STREET IN BANGOR AND 25-27 WILLOW AVENUE IN SLATINGTON WITH FUNDING SUPPORT FROM NORTHAMPTON AND LEHIGH COUNTIES, RESPECTIVELY. COMMUNITY ACTION FINANCIAL SERVICES CONDUCTED SEVEN HUD-CERTIFIED SEMINARS FOR 178 PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS, 150 OF WHOM RECEIVED CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION; THREE SEMINARS WERE CONDUCTED IN SPANISH AND FOUR IN ENGLISH. PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO 21 PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS AND PRE-SETTLEMENT COUNSELING TO 40 PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS. ASSISTED 73 FAMILIES IN PURCHASING A HOME. PROVIDED DEFAULT AND DELINQUENCY COUNSELING THROUGH THE LEHIGH COUNTY AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO 63 FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS; SAVED 27 HOUSEHOLDS FROM FORECLOSURE THROUGH LOAN MODIFICATIONS AND REPAYMENTS PLANS AND THREE HOMEOWNERS HAD THEIR MORTGAGES REINSTATED. FIFTEEN CASES REMAIN UNDER REVIEW FOR POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS. ASSISTED 33 HOMEOWNERS IN APPLYING FOR THE HOMEOWNERS' EMERGENCY MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEMAP). COUNSELED NINE ACTIVE SAVERS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM. THE NINE SAVERS HAVE SAVED A TOTAL OF 15,161.13. SLATE BELT RISING PROVIDED DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS, STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL PARTNERS THROUGH VARIOUS PROJECTS. PROVIDED SIX LOCAL STUDENTS WITH 500 SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP THEM PAY TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. IMPROVED THE FACADES OF FIVE BUILDINGS IN THE BOROUGHS OF BANGOR AND PEN ARGYL. RECEIVED THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXCELLENCE FOR PROMOTING COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION. IT ALSO WAS RECOGNIZED AS PART OF FIVE PROJECTS DURING THE LEHIGH VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION PROJECT AWARDS AND RECEIVED AN ORGANIZATIONAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR MULTI-MUNICIPAL COOPERATION. WORK READY ASSISTED 21 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN SECURING EMPLOYMENT. PROVIDED EMPLOYABILITY TRAINING AND COUNSELING TO 29 RECIPIENTS OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNTY ASSISTANCE OFFICES IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES AS THE MOST DIFFICULT TO EMPLOY. OFFERED LIFE SKILLS TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING ART MENTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ACTION FINANCIAL SERVICES), SELF-ESTEEM COACHING, AND ACCESS TO GED AND ESL COURSES.