Neighborimpact

NEIGHBORIMPACT SERVES THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OF CENTRAL OREGON, INCLUDING THE WARM SPRINGS INDIAN RESERVATION, WITH SERVICES THAT INCLUDE: A REGIONAL FOOD BANK, HEAD START PROGRAM (PRESCHOOL), ENERGY ASSISTANCE, WEATHERIZATION, HOUSING, SHELTER, HOME-OWNERSHIP AND PRESERVATION LOANS, SUPPORT TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND A MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY COMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS.

NEIGHBORIMPACT'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A HEAD START (PRESCHOOL) DIVISION AND A CHILDCARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL DIVISION. THE HEAD START DIVISION EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2021, BEGINNING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH 784 "SLOTS," CONTRASTING WITH 445 SLOTS THE PRIOR YEAR. NEW FACILITIES WERE ADDED, AND ADDITIONAL STAFF WERE ADDED TO ACCOMMODATE AN EXPANDED PROGRAM. THE EMERGENCE OF COVID FORCED A RAPID PIVOT TO ON-LINE LEARNING AND INVESTMENT IN HYGIENE MEASURES TO ALLOW FOR RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. TO SUPPORT ON-LINE LEARNING, SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES WERE DIRECTED TO FAMILIES AND TO STAFF TO FACILITATE BROADBAND ACCESS AND TECHNOLOGY. THE CHILDCARE RESOURCES DIVISION INVESTED HEAVILY IN SUBSIDY OF THE REGION'S CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, WHO WERE LARGELY SHUT DOWN BY THE PANDEMIC, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CAPACITY FOR RECOVERY OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY. IN SURVEYING THE POST-PANDEMIC LANDSCAPE, CENTRAL OREGON LOST ONLY ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL CHILDCARE "SLOTS," COMPARED TO A NATIONWIDE LOSS OF 50 PERCENT OR MORE.

NEIGHBORIMPACT'S HOUSING CENTER WAS AT THE EPICENTER OF CRISIS-RESPONSE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. NEIGHBORIMPACT WAS THE DESIGNATED DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE REGION OF FEDERAL AND STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS. ACROSS THREE FISCAL YEARS, NEIGHBORIMPACT DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $15 MILLION TO MORE THAN 2000 HOUSEHOLDS. SOME FUNDING STREAMS ALSO ALLOWED FOR PAYMENT OF UTILITIES, WATER/WASTEWATER AND INTERNET. TO THE BEST OF THE AGENCY'S KNOWLEDGE, NO HOUSEHOLD THAT COMPLETED A RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION THROUGH NEIGHBORIMPACT WAS EVICTED DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF RENT.

NEIGHBORIMPACT'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPED VERY LOW-INCOME RENTERS AVOID SHUTOFFS OR RESTORE POWER. NEIGHBORIMPACT PAID DOWN BALANCES THAT RAPIDLY ACCUMULATED DURING COVID WHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES DID NOT HAVE INCOME, ALLOWING HOUSEHOLDS TO ENTER COVID RECOVERY WITHOUT A MOUNTAIN OF UTILITY DEBT WAITING TO BE PAID. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT ALSO PILOTED A SMALL BUT SUCCESSFUL WATER/WASTEWATER BILL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

NEIGHBORIMPACT'S OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: FOOD (EXPENSE: $3,052,841); HOME OWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY COUNSELING (EXPENSE: $872,602); WEATHERIZATION (EXPENSE: $1,101,872) HELPING MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES TO HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS; LENDING (EXPENSE: $294,291) WHICH MADE LOANS TO PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND TO REHABILITATE HOMES FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS; AND THE REP PAYEE PROGRAM (EXPENSE: $60,703) WHICH PAYS BILLS ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS WHO, DUE TO COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE THEIR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. OTHER PROGRAMS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ARE GROUPED FOR REPORTING PURPOSES.