Area Five Agency On Aging & Community Services

Area five's head start program serves 160 children and families across cass, fulton, and wabash counties. Children from low-income families (130% of the federal poverty level or below) receive nutritionally balanced breakfasts, lunches, and snacks each day, along with developmentally appropriate, individualized instruction. The program emphasizes literacy, numeracy, math, and science, helping children learn through context-rich, engaging experiences in an environment of acceptance, love, understanding, and structure.the administrative team, in collaboration with teachers and assistant teachers, supports families throughout the year by helping parents set and achieve personal and family goals. Parents are encouraged to actively participate in their child's learning, volunteering in classrooms, serving on the parent committee, or contributing to the policy council. Each day, the program sees parents and children growing together through engagement, empowerment, and shared learning experiences.

As a dual area agency on aging and community action agency, area five has the unique capacity to meet the needs of individuals and families from birth through the aging years. Our community services program focuses on helping families move toward greater self-sufficiency through a variety of programs, techniques, and activities tailored to individual needs. We guide families in accessing appropriate services while helping them make the most of their available resources. Through initiatives like individual development accounts (idas), we encourage participants to invest in their future by saving for homeownership, education, or small business development. These opportunities help build long-term financial stability and independence. Area five's programs encompass a wide range of supportive services, including small business development initiatives, parent support and education groups, and health and wellness programs, housing supports, along with many other activities that strengthen and complement these efforts. Our success is driven by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of hours each year to help families in our community. Area five's multifaceted mission motivates our staff to either provide direct assistance or connect participants with the most appropriate community resources. We leverage a diverse array of tools and partnerships both within our agency and throughout our service area to create linkages that support individuals in achieving their goals. We challenge our staff, families, and community businesses and members to join us in building upon this strong foundation of service, compassion, and collaboration.

Housing and development programarea five agency on aging & community services has led economic and community development throughout our service region by creating housing and commercial real estate projects tailored to local needs. Our projects are built on innovation, collaboration, and compassion, ensuring that every initiative strengthens the communities we serve.area five has developed more than 300 units of rental housing and more than 30 homeownership opportunities. These projects range from single-family homes to large apartment complexes and are designed to serve special populations, including senior citizens, individuals with mental illness, and persons with disabilities.we also implement the housing choice voucher program (hcv) for cass, howard, grant, miami, and wabash counties assisting clients with locating housing that participates in the hcv program and providing the benefit to the landlords. Beyond housing, the agency has invested in community spaces that enhance quality of life, including senior centers, historic preservation projects such as libraries, and downtown streetscape improvements. Each project is a partnership that brings together financial institutions, funding agencies, and local organizations. Many of these initiatives have served as statewide and regional models for innovative community development.revenues generated from these projects are reinvested into area five's programs, allowing the agency to expand essential services and reach more residents across all areas of its mission.energy assistance program (eap)the energy assistance program supports income-eligible households, particularly seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those facing utility disconnection during the cold winter months. Serving cass, howard, miami, tipton, and wabash counties, the program ensures families stay safe and warm by providing assistance with energy costs. The eap program includes an educational component that helps clients reduce energy consumption through simple, low-cost, or no-cost methods.