March-April 2021………………………………………………………………………………………………..Volume 9, Issue 2

In the

News

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

Happier holiday NECAC made Christmas merrier for children and families throughout its 12 counties. Above, Lewis County Service Coordinator Amanda Ordell organizing packages. More photos are on Page 4.

Community Action Month to be celebrated in May

NECAC will join agencies across America in the May ob-servance of National Community Action Month. NECAC got a head start on the celebration by holding Commu-nity Action Month proclamation ceremonies with county com-missioners and executives in its 12-county region. (Please see photos on Page 3). Receptions are planned at each NECAC County Service Center. Board members, staff and county com-missioners will be invited. Community Action traces its roots to Aug. 20, 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation creating the Office of Economic Opportunity. The federal agency encouraged the rapid development of Community Action across the nation and provided initial funding for social service, community health and public housing programs. NECAC was organized in 1965. Since 1985, when Don Patrick became President and Chief Executive Officer, the agency has grown from a budget of $2.5 million to one of almost $29 mil-lion. The number of employees has climbed from 35 full-time and 12 part-time to 96 full-time and more than 100 part-time.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Economic Opportunity Act marking the birth of Community Action at the White House on Aug. 20, 1964.

Community Action Month Receptions May 5:

10 a.m.: Shelby 11:30 a.m.: Lewis

1 p.m.: Marion 2 p.m.: Pike

May 6 9 a.m.: Ralls

10:30 a.m.: Monroe 11:30 a.m.: Randolph

12:30 p.m.: Macon

May 12 9 a.m.: Lincoln

10:30 a.m.: Montgomery 11:30 a.m.: Warren

12:30 p.m.: St. Charles

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

NECAC Family Self-Sufficiency program client Lynn Run-yon talks with two of her grandchildren on the front porch of her home near Foley in Lincoln County.

FSS program helps woman reach goal of owning a home A program administered by NECAC helped a Lincoln County woman reach her dream of owning a home. Lynn Runyon saved more than $2,300 through the Family Self-Sufficiency program. She used the money to help with a down payment on a house near Foley. “My goal was to own my own home,” said the 57-year-old single moth-er, who has four children and five grandchildren. “That’s everybody’s dream. Owning a home is a wonderful feeling and means the world to me because it’s mine and no one can take that away.” The program sets aside part of clients’ contributions through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Hous-ing Rent-Assistance program, which NECAC administers in 12 Missouri counties. After completing the five-year program, they can use their accumulated escrow savings to buy a house, start a business, return to school or com-plete their path to self-sufficiency.

Please see Family Self-Sufficiency, Page 2

Family Self-Sufficiency is a way to achieve dreams Continued from Page 1

Runyon signed up for Family Self-Sufficiency in April 2016. She took NECAC homeowner-ship classes and looked at 50 to 75 properties before finding one in her price range. NECAC Family Self-Sufficiency Coor-dinator Anisa Blakely was impressed with Runyon’s de-termination. “Lynn and I developed a rapport, which gave me a bet-ter understanding of the goals she wanted to accomplish so that I could provide the sup-

ports specific to her needs,” Blakely said. “Lynn accom-plished her dream. Not only did she accomplish her dream, Lynn developed as a person. I couldn’t be proud-er.” Runyon credits Blakely with helping her through. “She made sure I kept my head straight and did not give up,” she said. “Knowing I was being held accountable to achieve my goals kept me motivated.”

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

NECAC Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator Anisa Blakely, left, visits with client Lynn Runyon.

NECAC’s Carla Potts and Cheryl-Ann Phillips will present a program at an upcom-ing state conference. The two will discuss aspects of the USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Home Loan Program administered by NECAC during the Missouri Community Action Network annual conference May 25-27. Due to COVID, the event will be done vir-tually. The Network repre-sents the state’s 19 Community Action Agencies and advo-cates for the needs of disadvantaged resi-dents. It holds a statewide conference each year during the May observance of National Community Action Month. “We’re very excited about sharing the successes we’ve had with 502,” said Potts, NECAC Deputy Director for Housing De-velopment Programs. “Nothing can beat the look on people’s faces when they receive the keys to their homes.” “We are always looking for ways to help more people realize the dream of owning a home, and the 502 program is a great way to do it,” added Phillips, NECAC Homeowner-ship Program Director. “We want people to know they can count on us to help in the home-buying process.” NECAC administers the 502 program in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. There is no down payment, but families must be able to afford mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance. Loans are for 33 years, with the interest rate set by the lender. Partici-pants take NECAC homeownership classes.

NECAC duo to discuss 502 loan program at state CAA conference

Potts

Phillips

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

NECAC Employment Services Coordinator Kirsten White, center, and Personnel Officer Cody Cox, right, talked with people attending a job fair April 14 at the Pike County Fairgrounds outside Bowling Green. The event was sponsored by the Pike County Economic Development Authority.

Rent-assistance waiting list set to open

NECAC planned to take applications for rent assistance starting May 1 for the Section 8 Rent-Assistance program in 11 counties. Applications for the waiting list may be accessed online at www.necac.org from any device that can connect with the Internet, including computers, tab-lets and smartphones. NECAC will provide assistance to those without com-puter access. Counties covered are Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Shelby and Warren, and the Vandalia/Farber area in which the agency contractually administers the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program. The program provides partial rent payments for low to moderate income residents. NECAC makes rent-subsidy payments directly to private landlords for income-qualifying families and individuals on houses, apartments or mo-bile homes. Clients pay the rest. NECAC inspects all rental units initially and annually to assure they meet HUD Housing Quality Standards and local zoning standards for safe and clean conditions before rent payments are issued. NECAC was awarded additional vouchers specifically for qualifying veter-ans, non-elderly disabled people ages 62 and younger, and foster youth ages 18 to 24. The agency has operated the program for more than 40 years, and administers more than 1,750 vouchers in the 11 counties and the Vandalia/Farber area.

Proclamations mark Community Action Month

NECAC joined county commissioners and executives in proclamation ceremonies declaring May as Community Action Month as part of the nation-al observance. Following are photos from each county in NECAC’s service area. Identifications are from left to right.

Lewis County Commissioner Deanne Whiston, Commissioner and NECAC Lewis County Board Member Travis Fleer, NECAC Lewis County Service Coordinator Amanda Ordell, Presiding Commissioner Wayne Murphy Jr. and NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page. Other NECAC board members from Lewis County are Paul Kinney and Kim Darnell, both of Canton.

Lincoln County Seated are Commissioner and NECAC Lincoln County Board Member Matt Bass; Presiding Commissioner Joe Kaimann; and Associate Commissioner Mike Mueller. Standing are NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page and NECAC Lincoln County Service Coordinator Janice Allan. Other NECAC board members from Lincoln County are Jere Burkemper of Troy and Curtissa Kerr-Hunter of Elsberry.

Macon County NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Presiding County Commissioner Alan Wyatt, NECAC Macon County Service Coordinator Terri Laughlin and Commissioner Kevin Souther. Not pictured is County Commissioner and NECAC Macon County Board Member Clarence Walker of Macon. The other NE-CAC Macon County Board Members are Jean Jones and Mickey Shipp, both of Macon.

Marion County Commissioner Steve Begley, Commissioner and NE-CAC Marion County Board Member Larry Welch, Presiding Commissioner John David Lomax, NECAC County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz and NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page. Not pictured is NECAC Marion County Service Coordinator Gwen Koch. Other NECAC board members from Marion County are Josh Wilson of Palmyra and Roy Hark of Hannibal.

Monroe County NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, NECAC Monroe County Service Coordinator Maggie Middle-ton, Presiding Commissioner Mike Minor and Com-missioner and NECAC Monroe County Board Mem-ber Mike Whelan. Other NECAC board members from Monroe County are Jessica Chase of Paris and Maxine Jones of Holliday. Not pictured is Commis-sioner Marilyn O’Bannon.

Montgomery County NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston, Commissioner and NECAC Montgomery County Board Member Dave Teeter and Commissioner Doug Lensing. Other NECAC board members from Montgomery County are Richard Veinot of High Hill and Jane Dorlac of Montgomery City. Dorlac serves as a Board Trustee.

Pike County Presiding Commissioner Chris Gamm, Commissioner and NECAC Pike County Board Member Tommy Wal-lace, NECAC Pike County Service Coordinator Chandra Roberts, Commissioner Bill Allen and NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page. Other NECAC board mem-bers from Pike County are D. Randall Cone of Louisiana and Curt Mitchell of Clarksville. Cone serves as Board Secretary.

Ralls County Commissioner Junior Muerhing, Commissioner and NE-CAC Ralls County Board Member John Lake, NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Ralls County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chris Flynn, Presiding Com-missioner Wiley Hibbard, Sheriff Brad Stinson, NECAC County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz, Ralls County Clerk Sandra Lanier and NECAC Ralls County Board Member Lowell Jackson, who also serves as a Trus-tee. Not pictured is NECAC Ralls County Service Coordi-nator Miranda Anderson. The other NECAC Board Mem-ber from Ralls County is Janet Hoyt of New London.

Randolph County Commissioners John Hobbs and John Tracy, Presiding Commissioner and NECAC Randolph County Board Member John Truesdell, NECAC Randolph County Service Coordinator Patsy Redding and NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page. Other NECAC board members from Ran-dolph County are Lorna Miles and Shawn McGee, both of Moberly.

St. Charles County NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and NECAC St. Charles County Service Coordinator Cheryl Clerkley. Serving on the NECAC Board from St. Charles County are Mary Hutchison of St. Charles and Mike Bridgins and Diane Hileman, both of St. Peters. Bridgins is Chairman of the Board.

Shelby County Commissioners Terry Mefford and Tom Shively, NECAC Shelby County Service Coordinator Lisa Blickhan, Pre-siding Commissioner and NECAC Shelby County Board Member Glenn Eagan and NECAC Chief Deputy Direc-tor Dan Page. Eagan also serves as NECAC Board Vice-Chairman. Other NECAC board members from Shelby County are Melissa Killen of Leonard and Troy Dawkins of Shelbina.

Warren County Commissioner Tom Meyer, Presiding Commis-sioner Joe Gildehaus, NECAC Chief Deputy Director Dan Page and Commissioner Matt Flake. Not pictured is NECAC Warren County Service Coordinator Desiree Antoniou. Serving on the NECAC Board from Warren County are Fred Vahle and Amy Lombardo, both of Warren-ton, and Cheryl Wisdom of Wright City.

Return Service Requested

Don Patrick, President &

CEO

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

NECAC is contractually required to publish the following: “This program is funded 100% at $100 with federal funds received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.”

Mike Bridgins,

Chairman of the Board

Feeding Their Neighbors

Effort to offer food pantry boxes continues

NECAC is installing “Feed Your Neighbor” food pantry boxes in each of its 12 counties. Residents can take or drop off food anytime. The program was de-veloped in response to NECAC-conducted surveys about community needs. The first pantry was set up in Warren Coun-ty. Since then, boxes have been added in Lewis and Monroe counties. Additional boxes are being built. In the top photo, NE-CAC Lewis County Service Coordinator Amanda Ordell places items in her pantry, which is located at the NECAC Lewis County Service Center, 408 S. Fourth in Can-ton. In the bottom photo, NECAC Monroe County Service Coor-dinator Maggie Middleton, right, and the Rev. Olivia Ear-lywine of Monroe City United Methodist Church place food and hygiene items in the pantry located near the church. Mon-roe City Christian Church is across the street, and has joined NECAC and the Methodist congregation in helping with the project.

Utility assistance changes offer more participation NECAC is welcoming changes that will allow more low-income people to sign up for utility assistance. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced April 23 that the state is expanding eligibility for the Low-Income Home Ener-gy Assistance (LIHEAP) program to households with incomes up to 135 percent of the federal poverty level to include those with an income of up to 60 percent of state median income. The change will now allow a family of four with an annual income of up to $51,021 to receive benefits. Previously, the qualifying income level was $35,364. “We welcome this significant change in eligibility for the LIHEAP program,” said NECAC LIHEAP Supervisor Angela Kat-tenbraker. “The COVID pandemic has kept more people at home the last year. Conse-quently, their utility bills often are higher. Expanding LIHEAP will give them an op-portunity to use money they would have spent on utilities for other needs.” The deadline to sign up for LIHEAP win-ter assistance is May 31. The eligibility for one person is an annual income of $26,531 or less; for two people, $34,694; for three people, $42,858; for five people, $59,184; and for six people $67,348. To determine eligibility for households of more than six people, add an additional $1,536 per year. Other qualifications apply. LIHEAP assists with paying part of the energy bills of in-come-qualifying people. Eligible households could receive a minimum of $47 up to a maximum of $495, depending upon income, household size and type of heating source. Payments are made directly to utility companies. In addition, the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) offers assistance of up to $800 to those who have received a utility shut-off notice.

Kattenbraker