Community Action Partnership Of Lancaster And Saunders Counties

Community services:community action's vision for a healthy, vibrant, and inclusive community motivates us to offer numerous vital services to the community at large. Among these services is languagelinc, a professional interpretation and translation service and our gathering place soup kitchen, which provides nutritious evening meals 7 nights per week. In fiscal year 2024, the gathering place served 55,660 meals with 99% of those meals containing fresh content.

Homelessness prevention:community action's homelessness prevention programs ensure housing stability and prevent homelessness through the provision of emergency services, supportive housing, and tenant support services programs. Our emergency services program provides emergency financial assistance with rent for those with an eviction notice, utilities for those who have received a disconnect notice, and deposits for those transitioning out of homelessness. Our supportive housing program transitions families experiencing homelessness into permanent housing and provides case management for up to two years to support movement toward self-sufficiency. Our tenant support services program provides tenant/landlord education and mediation with a goal of eviction prevention. In fiscal year 2024, 3,195 individuals were supported in avoiding homelessness through the receipt of financial assistance with rent and utilities.

Financial and family well-being:community action's financial and family well-being programs are geared toward increasing financial stability of low- to moderate-income individuals and families. Our free to save program provides financial education paired with 4:1 matched savings for the purchase of a home, postsecondary education, vehicle, or small business start-up/expansion. Our lincoln community response program supports and links families to resources to prevent entry into the child welfare system. The weatherization program identifies areas of energy inefficiency in low- to moderate-income homes and provides services (which may include furnace tune-ups, window/door caulking, and insulation) to remediate. Services provided result in decreased utility burdens and improved housing stock. Just to name a few outcomes achieved in fiscal year 2024, 129 individuals participated in programming to improve financial knowledge and 14 purchased an asset to improve long-term financial well-being.