Community Action Builds Relationships

Community Action Agencies employ a variety of programs to help low-income people achieve self-sufficiency. At Akron Summit Community Action one successful program that they utilize is Circles. The Circles philosophy believes that responsibility for both poverty and prosperity rests not only in the hands of individuals, but also with societies, institutions and communities. As such, Circles inspires and equips families and communities to resolve poverty by connecting people who are motivated to move out of poverty and become self-sufficient (known as Circle Leaders) with economically-stable volunteers from the community (known as Allies) who are committed to offering assistance to Circle Leaders.

Community Action is With You Every Step of the Way

Amanda was an 18-year-old stay-at-home mom to three young boys when she first turned to the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) for help with her utilities in 2008. At the time, she didn’t know her financial situation or even who her utility companies were because her “husband handled that stuff.” Now she is a single, self-sufficient mom with a degree in criminal justice and a good job with a local police department thanks to the help of NOCAC.

Community Action Helps People in Difficult Situations

A disabled woman was living with her daughter in an abusive situation when she turned to the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo (EOPA), the local Community Action Agency in Lucas County, for assistance. Her daughter was charging her excessive rent, plus additional expenses, and being verbally abusive. She decided she could not take any more, but needed assistance with her rent to move out. The situation was so dire that she stated that if she did not get help with rent, she would rather be homeless.

Community Action Keeps People Healthy

Low-income people often lack access to affordable healthcare and many Community Action Agencies offer assistance with this. The Community Action Committee of Pike County  has been providing quality, affordable healthcare to people in southern Ohio for 30 years through their five healthcare centers known as Valley View Health Centers. And thanks to a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), they were able to improve preventive healthcare in 2013 by offering cervical cancer screenings.