Making Positive Connections: A Family Development Story

Before enrolling in Lifeline's Family Development program (the Community Action Agency for Lake County, Ohio), Stacy worried each night about how to provide for her two young daughters. She was working and going to school, but it never seemed like enough. How would she feed them? Clothe them? Would she ever feel like she could give them everything they needed?

Community Action Serves Middletown Veteran with Mobility Modifications

Mr. Dean enjoys sitting on his repaired porch
with a new wheelchair ramp that allows him
to leave the house.

Imagine being confined to your home for over two years with trips being limited only to the doctor or hospital. Think about not being able to visit with neighbors, smell the flowers in the front yard or make trips to the grocery store. This is a reality for too many disabled, low-income people, and is exactly what Mr. Dean of Middletwon was experiencing.

By Car Program Helps Single Mom Fulfill Dream, Create Better Life for Family

Carolyn, a single mother of four, was trying to make a better life for her and her children by going to school to become a dental lab technician, but when her car broke down it changed everything. "My car broke down and after it was gone it changed my life tremendously," Carolyn explained. Not only did Carolyn struggle to run errands, get to class and take her kids to activities, she worried about how she would find a job after her impending graduation.

Study Shows Community Action Agencies Contribute to Economic Development

Ohio University and the Ohio Association of Community Action agencies have released a research study entitled Community Action Agencies: Strengthening Ohio’s Communities. The study was conducted by Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and reports how Community Action Agencies’ contribute to their community’s economic development through various programs and initiatives.

Open publication - Free publishing

Homeless Veteran Finds a Home and a Job with Community Action

David, a Navy veteran of the first Gulf War, found himself homeless after losing his job and going through a divorce. The father of two was staying at a homeless shelter in Fremont, Ohio when he turned to WSOS Community Action for help.

Stay-at-Home Mom Improves Life for Her and Her Kids Thanks to Community Action

Charity was a stay-at-home mom with three young children who was feeling frustrated about some of her past decisions and not being able to provide for her family the way she needed to. She knew that she wanted more out of life for her and her children and wanted to be a good example for them.

Child Goes from Unable to Communicate to Top of Kindergarten Class

When Tristan's parents brought him to Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission for Head Start pre-school classes he was three years old and the staff was unable to understand one word that he tried to speak. He was administered the National Reporting System (NRS) Assessment Test, which is a standardized assessment for Head Start students instituted by the federal government to demonstrate a child's understanding of certain words, to identify letters, recognize geometric shapes and solve simple addition and subtraction problems. Tristan failed the picture naming test because the staff could not understand him. Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland had him tested and he qualified for speech therapy. Together, the speech therapist and Head Start staff would prepare Tristan for kindergarten.

Community Action Helps Dislocated Worker Upgrade Skills and Succeed

Uriah worked as an installation supervisor making $15 an hour when the company he worked for shut down and he lost his job. After almost a year of trying to find another job, he turned to Hocking, Athens, Perry Community Action (HAPCAP) to upgrade his skills.

Community Action Helps Diabetic Continue to Get Medication in Time of Need

Kathy is a diabetic who takes two types of insulin to manage her condition and tests her blood sugar three times a day, but after being injured in 2010 she had to switch from full-time to part-time work and was struggling to pay for her expensive medications after the decrease in income. At 60 years old, Kathy doesn't qualify for Medicare yet and was unable to successfully manage her diabetes.

Giving an Ex-Offender a Fresh Start

Brett had spent 18 of the past 35 years behind bars. Released for what he expects will be the last time, Brett began trying to get his life together. Although Brett wanted to turn over a new leaf and contribute to society, finding a steady job with five felonies on his record proved extremely difficult.

Community Action Helps a Struggling Veteran

A veteran from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (Gulf War-era II) was sentenced to attend the Fathers Matter program at the Community Action Commission of Erie, Huron and Richland Counties as part of an alternative sentence after violating his probation for his charge of failing to pay child support. During the sessions that provide parenting skills and encourage increased involvement with the participants' children, the program facilitator thought he might be able to offer additional help to this struggling veteran.

Community Action Agencies Help Struggling Families After Severe Storms Hit Ohio

When severe storms hit Ohio on June 29 it left hundreds of thousands of Ohioans without power, causing many low-income families to struggle to survive. Community Action Agencies throughout the state stepped in to offer assistance with anything from gas for generators to help paying for prescription medication, food and other necessities.

Single Mom Gets Assistance She Needs from Community Action

This past winter, Veronica found herself a newly single mom struggling to make ends meet and keep the heat on for her and her son. She turned to the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (ILCAO) for assistance.

Highland County Community Action Organization Helps Injured Worker Keep A Roof Over His Head

After 15 years of working, a Highland County resident lost his job due to a life-changing back injury. With the loss of income, he also lost his house and car. Highland County Community Action Organization helped this injured worker get back on his feet.

Community Action Helps Cancer Patient Keep Her Home

Victoria held a steady job and had a stable home to raise her four children, but when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer that stability was at risk.

Computer Training Helps Lorain County Resident Succeed

Linda, a 60-year-old disabled resident of Lorain County was unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. She turned to Lorain County Community Action Agency for help with her utilities through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and while there learned about their Community Learning and Technology Center's (CLTC) computer classes.

Community Action Helps Single Mom Get Finances Back on Track

After a recent divorce, Marie, a stay-at-home mother of four, was left with poor credit and was having trouble finding a job with her limited employment skills. She realized she had a lack of knowledge regarding her finances or how to fix her credit problems. She turned to Lima Allen Council on Community Affairs (LACCA) for help.

Community Action Helps Family Keep Their Home

Frank and Jennifer were working hard to provide for their two children. Frank had a good teaching position, but his job was eliminated and the only work he could find was as a part-time pizza delivery man. Jennifer was also working irregular hours demonstrating products in stores. But with the decrease in income they were falling behind in their mortgage payments. The couple turned to the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area for assistance.

Community Action Workforce Development Program Helps Cincinnati Man Start New Career

James had a good job as a food processor, but when the recession hit, he lost this position. His resources were quickly diminishing and James knew he needed to increase his skills to find a new job.

Community Action Providing Much Needed Job Training

 When a Scioto County resident lost her job due to layoffs, she turned to the Community Action Organization of Scioto County for assistance.

Weatherization Makes House a Home

Unable to work due to health issues, Debbie and her 12 year old daughter had been living with her father. But when her father kicked them out after an argument Debbie was unsure where her and her daughter would live. She looked into getting an apartment and working with HUD, but the wait for HUD assistance can be as much as two years and with being on Social Security with a limited income Debbie could not afford an apartment. She did have a trailer, but it was in such disrepair it was uninhabitable.

A Place to Call Home Thanks to Community Action

Submitted by a client of the Community Action Commission of Fayette County

I was homeless and living in my car for the past few years. I would stay with people a few times, maybe a week, every once in awhile. Other than that, I was 100 percent in my car. I was doing whatever I could to make just enough to eat. Every day was survival.

Breast Cancer Survivor Able to Continue Treatment

A breast cancer patient was taking the prescription Femara for her ongoing therapy. But when her husband's company stopped offering employees insurance coverage she did not know how she could afford the expensive drug for the next two years needed to complete her therapy.

Lifeline Helps Single Mom Realize Her Dream

As a single mother of two toddler boys, Ashley knew that she needed to continue her education in order to provide a good and stable home for her family. Although she enrolled in an intensive Licensed Practical Nursing program, Ashley found the task of juggling part-time work as a nursing assistant, full-time coursework and raising her sons to be a bit daunting. Lifeline, Lake County's Community Action Agency, had a Family Development program to help her through this complex time in her life.

Community Action Helps Richland County Man Become Better Father

Joseph was faced with the prospect of never seeing is unborn son while incarcerated in the Community Alternative Center. But this father-to-be started taking the Fathers Matter (24:7 Dads) course through the Community Action Commission of Erie, Huron and Richland Counties Richland branch. Now he has a full-time job, his probation requirements have changed, and he has visitation rights with his son.

HEAP Helps Heart Attack Victim

This summer, after 17 years working a steady job at Honda, an Ohio resident suffered a heart attack while on the job. He had to be taken by life flight to Riverside Hospital in Columbus where he had a double by-pass surgery. He was hospitalized for almost a month. Although he and his wife had never received assistance before, this situation caused them to fall behind on their bills.