Community Action Provides Training

Fred had a liberal arts degree from Kent State University and struggled to find employment. Both he and his wife were working part-time jobs and struggling financially. They were the definition of the working poor. They were first referred to the Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) by a board member who told them about a program that utilized Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist homeowners with repairs to their heating systems. The couple, who had two small children, had recently purchased a home in Kent through a first-time home buyers program and the furnace wasn’t functioning properly.

Community Action Helps People Make Ends Meet

GD and his wife are both diabetic and with their costly bills struggle to have enough to afford healthy foods. On a regular basis, GD visits Highland County Community Action Organization’s food pantry program for help. The agency changed their intake process for the food assistance program to include a full assessment and realized they could provide more assistance to GD and his wife.

Community Action Makes a Difference in People's Lives

Kim, a client of Ross County Community Action Commission explains how Community Action made a difference in her life:

Community Action Helps Senior Citizens

Clara is an 83-year-old senior citizen who was referred to Lima/Allen Council on Community Affairs (LACCA) by Job & Family Services Adult Protective Services Unit because she did not have heat in her home during the coldest period of the winter.

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 Goes the Extra Mile

Dave, a father of two, had been without heat or electricity for several months due to an issue with the previous tenant. Unsure of what to do, he turned to Lorain County Community Action Agency (LCCAA) for help.

Community Action Helps Senior Citizens Maintain their Quality of Life

Ms. Bookless is an elderly woman that maintains her independence because of the assistance offered through the Community Action Agency in Muskingum County, Muskingum Economic Opportunity Action Group (MEOAG). One program she utilizes is MEOAG’s Franciscan Community Meals on Wheels (FCM) program. She has also benefited from an air conditioner, refrigerator and other energy efficient measures through the American Electric Power- Community Assistance Program (AEP-CAP) administered by MEOAG.

Community Action Helps Our Most Vulnerable Citizens

A hearing-impaired and mentally challenged woman went to Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission needing assistance with her electric and fuel oil. Her electric was due to be shut off the following day and she had no fuel oil left. While the client could receive assistance through the emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), specific paperwork is needed to participate in the program. After reviewing her paperwork, it was clear that additional information was needed and she’d need to come back the following day. When the Ohio Heartland intake worker brought her back into her cubical to explain this she realized the client’s challenges and went the extra mile to help her.

Community Action Helps Stroke Victim Keep His Home

J.D. is a veteran who was working full time until he suffered a stroke and heart attack that placed him on FMLA (Family & Medical Leave Act). This ultimately led to his termination of employment when his leave extended beyond 12 weeks, leaving him and his wife in financial trouble.

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 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.

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.

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.