Category: Newsletter

Courtney Campbell

Senior Companion Program Director

The SCP Program recruits volunteers that are aged 56 or older to provide in-home services to the frail elderly that helps them remain living independently in their own homes. SCP volunteers provide companionship, light housecleaning, light meal preparation, short distance transportation, and respite care. All services are delivered at no cost to the client or recipient.

CKCAC would like to announce and welcome Courtney Campbell as the new Director of our Senior Companion Program.  Courtney resides in Marion County with her husband Patrick and their one-year-old daughter Holyn. Courtney has a strong background in working with Seniors as well as the health care industry for over 12 years and will be a perfect fit. Her first day was November 1st and she is excited about the opportunity and getting to know and help serve the seniors of our communities. 

Courtney can be reached at the Central Office at 270-692-2136 ext. 601 or 270-402-7194

David Lindsey

Weatherization Program Director 

 Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Program ended the year fully staffed and look forward to what the new year will bring. CKCAC’s weatherization program has experienced some set backs to start out the new year with our QCI staff being out with illness and injury. We have utilized this time to achieve new required trainings for staff as well as assisted other programs such as head start with moving into their new buildings. As of June 30, 2021 CKCAC has 42 clients on the waiting list to receive Weatherization services as of July 1^st 2021 to start the new year. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew and are still utilizing contractors to perform HVAC and Electrical work that we have to perform to the dwellings receiving services. We look forward to the future of the new contract year of CKCAC’s weatherization program to progress and better serve our 8 county service area.

Hal Goode Executive Director
NOVEMBER 2021

Central Kentucky Community Action Council is accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Subsidy Component through December 10, 2021. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through December 10, 2021, or until designated funds are depleted. Assistance received during prior LIHEAP Components does not impact a household’s eligibility. LIHEAP is designed to assist qualified households with offsetting their home energy cost, the Subsidy Component benefits are awarded based on a household’s income level and heating fuel type. Income eligibility requirements are up to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Benefits are paid directly to the primary fuel vendor. Central Kentucky Community Action Council operates outreach offices in Marion, Nelson, Hardin, Meade, Larue, Grayson, Breckinridge, and Washington counties. Qualified applicants are encouraged to contact their county outreach office for specific applications instructions. All applicants will be required to supply the following documentation at the time of application: Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household. ·        Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month. ·        Most current heating bill, statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent, statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program. The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.  Applicants may be eligible for assistance through other utility programs, including the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEA). To find out more about the HEA program, including participating utility providers and eligibility requirements, visit https://www.capky.org. An approved LIHEAP Application is not a guarantee that a household is eligible and/or will receive benefits through HEA, 
Central Kentucky Community Action Council administers LIHEAP in partnership with Community Action Kentucky and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More information about resources provided by Central Kentucky Community Action Council and a listing of LIHEAP outreach offices can be found at our website www.ckcac.org or call 270-692-2136 #402 for more information.    More to come…………….much more. 

Hal Goode Executive Director
OCTOBER 2021
CENSUS RELEASES POVERTY DATA FOR 2020 thanks to Denise Harlow, Executive Director for Community Action Partnership who recently emailed me the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data on poverty, income inequality, and health coverage. The data covers 2020 and demonstrates how relief provisions in the first two major pieces of federal COVID-19 legislation mitigated the negative economic effects of the pandemic. The official poverty rate increased slightly, but estimated rates decreased significantly when post-tax income, relief programs, and stimulus payments were included. The Census Bureau’s 3 reports below are resources for Community Needs Assessments, Planning, and Advocacy efforts:1. Income and Official Poverty Rate (OPR): Median household income, controlling for inflation, dropped by 2.9 percent in 2020 across all selected characteristics, the first decrease since 2011. Median incomes for Black and Hispanic households ($45,870 and $55,321, respectively) remained far below those of their white counterparts ($74,912). The overall official poverty rate increased 1 percentage point, from 10.5 to 11.4 percent. Poverty rates for Black and Hispanic individuals (19.5% and 17%, respectively) were more than double that of white non-Hispanics (8.2%).2. Health Care Coverage: In 2020, 8.6 percent of people interviewed were not covered by health insurance (28 million), down from 9.2 percent (29.6 million) in 2019, with fewer people on private plans due to a slight decline in employer-based coverage. Data on uninsured is broken down by age, race, income-to-poverty ratio, work experience, and marital status. In states that have expanded Medicaid, adults aged 19-64 had lower uninsured rates (8.9%) when compared to non expansion states (17.6%).3. Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM): The SPM — which factors in tax credits, government programs, and expenses — decreased 2.6 percentage points, from 11.8 to 9.1 percent, the lowest rate on record. During a pandemic and economic downturn, SPM elements prevented millions of people from entering poverty. These elements include stimulus payments (11.7 million people), unemployment insurance (5.5 million), tax credits like the CTC/EITC (5.3 million), food assistance (6.1 million), and housing assistance (2.4 million).The Coalition on Human Needs has released a helpful factsheet with topline numbers. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has calculated that 2020 policies kept 53 million people out of poverty and has released a short list of things to look for in the new numbers. This information was provided by Ryan Gelman, Project Director for Public Policy and Advocacy with Community Action Partnership. 

I have his contact below:

Ryan P. Gelman, Esq. Project Director, Public Policy & Advocacy National Community Action Partnership1020 19th Street, NW, Suite 700

David Lindsey Weatherization Program Director  

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Program ended the year fully staffed and look forward to what the new year will bring. CKCAC’s weatherization program has experienced some set backs to start out the new year with our QCI staff being out with illness and injury. We have utilized this time to achieve new required trainings for staff as well as assisted other programs such as head start with moving into their new buildings. As of June 30, 2021 CKCAC has 42 clients on the waiting list to receive Weatherization services as of July 1^st 2021 to start the new year. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew and are still utilizing contractors to perform HVAC and Electrical work that we have to perform to the dwellings receiving services. We look forward to the future of the new contract year of CKCAC’s weatherization program to progress and better serve our 8 county service area.
Central Kentucky Community Action Council Wx program is fully staffed with a highly trained supporting and technical staff consisting of Denny Baxter Dwelling Needs Evaluator EA/QCI Josh Mattingly Crew Leader, Tessa Hinton Retrofit Installer, and supporting staff Barbara Garrett Weatherization Manager. We would like to say a huge thank you to all WX staff for their dedication for improving the quality of work and the dedication to ensure the health and safety of all the clients we serve.
Central Kentucky Community Action Council has leveraged funds from utilities to expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This year we are leveraging funding from DOE, LIHEAP, ATMOS, East Kentucky Power, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas& Electric.
Our goal with weatherization is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the Health and safety of each client we serve through testing consisting of; aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics.

Tommy Wheatley Kentucky Works Director

The Kentucky Works Program supports the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the following Kentucky counties. Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Woodford. Covid-19 continues to have a significant impact on both of our programs. While there is a current state of emergency, the state of Kentucky has implemented a “Good Cause exemption” where clients are not required to participate in the programs. This good cause exemption is currently in effect through 12-31-2021 but could be extended beyond that date until the vaccines can be more widely distributed. We currently have 3 clients that are employed in the K-TAP Program. Our Employment Specialists continue to follow up with each of these clients and track the hours they are working. On the SNAP Employment and Training program we continue to reach out to these clients and complete assessments when they are referred to us. We had 127 referrals for the SNAP program during this quarter. We continue to stay in touch with employers and if we do get referrals we match the clients skills with the employer needs to have a good match. We call new employers each week and keep a current job listing for each county we serve. We continue to see an impact with Covid on our Work Experience Program sites as many of them are either closed or unable to accept our referrals. We updated them and the numbers taking volunteers has improved. We have 135 sites in our 17 counties that we send our clients and as of now, 59 are open and/or willing to accept referrals due to Covid-19. This is similar to last quarter. Our staff continues to stay in touch virtually to discuss all relative matters in the program.

-We started a new case management system in July and staff have been trained for this system. There have been issues with the system that the state is trying to fix.

– We continue to offer a wage subsidy program where if an employer hires one of our K-TAP clients they will be reimbursed for a portion of their wages during the first six month of employment.

-We have one new client that started unsubsidized employment in the SNAP program.

Ellen Leake CSBG Director

CSBG/LIHEAP September 2021
Our program continues its work from being an immediate emergency assistance provider to becoming a program that really helps the families of low-income change their lives. Although we continue to provide emergency assistance, we also assist with budgeting, developing family goal plans and strategies to avoid future emergencies. As we work with families to develop strategies to prevent future emergencies, tips such as budget billing, paying your rent first, shopping at less expensive stores, and controlling impulsive spending are helpful and sometimes well received. Those not working are encouraged to find employment. Our employment and education programs can assist with small barriers to gaining full time employment or better employment. How do we help? It can be partial assistance with a CNA, CDL class, or proper clothing and shoes for a new job, gas for transportation to work for a week.
SUMMER COOLING   3658 households have been assisted, total spent $1,346,700.00SUMMER COOLING CRISIS 1755 households have been assisted, total spent $468,712.54
PREPARING FOR LIHEAP Official Dates for Subsidy, Nov. 1^st  through Dec. 10^th.We will not be using a Calendar Schedule for Subsidy this year. The vendor information packets have been sent to over 100 vendors. Vendor advertisements have run in local papers throughout the 8 county region. The vendor agreements must be on file in the Central Office before vendors can participate in the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. Special thanks in advance to Judith for a job well done. When these agreements are returned by mail, they will be reviewed, filed, and then the information updated in the computers in the county offices.
Pre-registration opportunities for the 2021-2022 Subsidy Heating Assistance Program will be offered during October 18th – October 29th for those residents who are on a fixed income, and who are elderly (age 60 or over) or disabled receiving social security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits. Pre-registration benefits will post in November. Applicants must be within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and willing to provide the documentation below:

-Address Verification, metered utility bill, unopened legal piece of first class mail confirming the name and address, etc.

-Proof of all household income for preceding month (food stamp award letter, pay stubs, etc.)

-Social Security card(s) or official documentation with social security numbers or Permanent Resident Card Numbers for everyone living in the household.

-Most recent heating bill or verification from landlord that heating expenses are included in the rent (i.e. lease agreements).

Income-eligible residents who do not meet the requirements for pre-registration (who are not elderly or disabled) may still apply for Subsidy LIHEAP benefits starting November 1 – December 10, 2021.  

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT for 2021-2022 is underway. The results help determine the CSBG program budget for the upcoming year. We are needing a broad range of community members to complete the survey, so feel free to share. Your help is greatly appreciated. If you are a CKCAC Board member completing the survey, please choose board member.

Could you please go online and compete this survey for Central Kentucky Community Action? This survey is for our Community Needs Assessment for year 2021-2022.

The survey allows us to continue to have programs in our county. You can do this by clicking on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MC3MDXP-21-22CNA

CKCATS is back up and running 90% trip capacity for the month of July 2021. This is very encouraging that we had such a rapid recovery from Covid-19 for clients requesting transportation.
August 2021 Covid cases seem to be sky rocketing and we already had news that the Senior Centers closed their doors once again on August 9th. We will still be transporting clients for the drive thru meals.
Hal Goode spoke with Sue Greenwell at LTADD about adding an additional medical trip each week to our 5 county area. The Seniors can book 2 medical trips per week, along with the daily Senior Center trips once per week.
CKCATS newest bus for Marion County is CK-127. It features a wrap with the Community Action logo and advertises our agency’s positions that are available.
We are still waiting on 3 SUV’s that were supposed to be delivered in February but was put on hold due to a chip malfunction at the automakers. That may also cause a hold in 5 other buses that have been ordered after we received funding from the 5339 grant, along with 4 additional buses that were funded by the 5311 CARES funding.