Volume 3, Issue 11 November 2017

In This Issue...

Extended Head Start hoursexpand families' success

Turn empty storefronts into affordable housing

Community Action Agencyprofessionals hone their skills

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GCCARD seeks financedirector

Genesee County CommunityAction Resource Department isseeking a finance director. Aposition description can be foundhere. For more information, or toapply, visit GCCARD's website.

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Upcoming Events

MI CCAP Study Group Nov. 28

The MI CCAP Study Group willmeet with Charles McCannTuesday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. –3 p.m. at MCA’s office inOkemos.

For a full list of events, visitMCA’s calendar.

Did you know?

Besides cutting energy costsfor households and businesses,energy efficiency has many othernon-energy benefits, such asimproved health for residents,more economic development forcommunities and greaterfinancial savings for utilities,which can be passed on toconsumers. A shift to cleanenergy offers a chance toprevent the worst impacts ofclimate change, while conservingnon renewable fossil fuels.

Catalyst welcomes input, story ideas

Is there a story or issue you'dlike to see covered in Catalyst?

Let us know what's happeningin your agency or region.Success stories? Recentevents? People news?

We welcome your input andfeedback. Please send yourcomments and ideas here.

MCA Officers/Board Members 2015-2017

Jill Sutton President

Mid Michigan CAA

Louis Piszker Vice President

Wayne Metro CAA

Michelle Williamson Secretary Treasurer

Community Action

Melinda Johnson At-Large Officer

Blue Water Community Action

Arthur Fenrick Lower Peninsula Rural Officer

Southwestern Michigan CAA

Kerri DuffUpper Peninsula Officer

Gogebic Ontonagon CAA

Toby Berry Urban Officer

Community Action Agency

Matt Purcell Directors Council Chair

GCCARD

Eric Schertzing CAA Governing Board OfficerCapital Area Comm. ServicesDoug McFaddenCAA Governing Board OfficerEightCAP

Extended Head Start hours expand families’ successes

Children are cared for and educated during Community Action Agency's extended

Early Head Start program hours.

For parents who are not working a typical 9 to 5 workday, itcan be difficult to find quality child care that fits their hecticschedules. Now, parents in Calhoun have more opportunities tosucceed in the workplace and find care for their children thanksto Community Action’s Early Head Start Extended HoursProject.

Community Action in Battle Creek was already runningsuccessful Early Head Start programs in Barry, Calhoun and StJoseph. To help provide more opportunities for its clients toaccess Early Head Start services, the agency tried extendingprogram hours in Calhoun.

“We know the families don’t have traditional work schedules,”says Michelle Williamson, Community Action executivedirector. “This eliminated midday disruptions, shuffling childrenfrom one care service to another and caregivers who may nothave the best qualifications.”

The program works with both children and parents fromdisadvantaged families, taking a dual generation approach tocombating poverty. Children learn to improve literacy, languageand social skills, while parents work to become more involved intheir child’s education and their own self-improvement.

A recent study conducted by a third party revealed the impactextended program hours had on participants. Children’sliteracy, language and social skills improved more than childrenin regular Early Head Start programs. Similarly, parentsreported working more hours with fewer interruptions or gainingemployment. Most importantly, parents reported being moreinvolved in their child’s education and self-improvementopportunities.

“Strong families are the foundation of thriving communities,"says Rep. Dr. John Bizon (R-Battle Creek). "CommunityAction’s expanded Early Head Start program hours help parentsbecome more reliable and focused workers, and children excelin the classroom.”

Community Action used the Calhoun program model toreceive additional federal funds and implement similar practicesin its other service areas.

“We learned significant pieces around family employment andneed for uninterrupted child care,” Williamson says. “Goingforward, we will work with community organizations andfoundations to help ourselves and child providers extend theirdays of care.”

Turn empty storefronts into affordable housing

By Kate Birnbryer-White

Originally published in the Detroit News Aug. 29, 2017

Some Michigan communities have anabundance of vacant storefronts and officebuildings that serve as blight instead ofanchors of neighborhood commerce. Some

shuttered businesses could be reborn as housing for those whowant to live closer to the jobs they seek. That would help tosolve two problems: the cancerous effect of vacant buildings onneighborhoods, and lack of affordable housing that keepspeople from moving into areas that offer jobs.

The idea is being considered in Washington, D.C., where aproposed law would promote the conversion of underused orvacant office buildings to subsidized low-income housing. About 11 percent of the city’s commercial properties are vacant.The pending bill awaits a hearing.

The nation’s capital has a robust jobs market with plenty ofhigh-end housing available. A great need exists, however, forhousing for workers whose jobs are in the city but who cannotafford to live there.

In Hartford, Connecticut, developers turned a vacant, 100-year-old former warehouse into mixed-income housing,including 32 low-income subsidized units. The $36.5 millionproject was aided by $8.7 million in federal tax credits.Connecticut offers up to $50,000 to communities that buildaffordable housing that costs no more than 30 percent oftenants’ annual income. Connecticut has the highest per capitaincome among states but housing is unaffordable for many.

Michigan might consider a couple of trends. One is a growingmarket for lower cost housing, as opposed to so-called luxuryhousing. And there’s an opportunity in medium and smallcommunities to entice people to move from suburbs into town,closer to cheaper transportation and services they need.Bringing people back to cities could empower businessexpansions, as employees become customers for localservices, food and entertainment.

For some, apartment or condo living would be less expensiveand demanding than maintaining a suburban house. Emptycommercial buildings, with their abundance of open and easilyconvertible spaces, may offer developers a less expensivealternative to building new apartments.

To make that happen would take a commitment fromcommunity leaders and the state. As jobs go unfilled andpotential workers struggle to find housing, it makes sense toexplore how empty commercial buildings could find productivenew life as homes to self-sufficient workers.

Community Action Agencies are doing great work to createhousing in cities. Wayne Metro Community Action Agencycreated a mixed use project in Lincoln Park rehabilitating an oldmovie theater in 2015. It is a great example re-using,repurposing and redeveloping commercial properties.

Read more about Wayne Metro's Lincoln Park projecthere: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/old-lincoln-park-theater-turned-into-lofts

Community Action Agencyprofessionals hone their skills

Aspiring leaders of Community Action Agencies met forMCA's 6th annual Leadership Development Institute (LDI)Oct. 26. The group of 37 students, LDI's largest ever, completea nine-month curriculum to help them develop effectiveleadership styles and qualities, creating stronger agencies athome.

Katherine Eilers of WIPFLi, a financial consulting firm, explains administrativerequirements for federal contracts.

Nearly 50 CAA professionals attended the Office ofManagement and Budget (OMB) Circulars and CostAllocation seminars Wednesday, Nov. 1- 2 at Mid MichiganCommunity Action Agency in Farwell.

Michigan Community Action2173 Commons Parkway

Okemos, MI 48864 517.321.7500