Inside:A Focus on Housing and Shelter 1

Of Friends and Family 1

William J. Shuler Family Development Center 2

Community Connections 2

Community with a Heart 3

What’s Been GoingOn? 3

2010 Upcoming Events 4

Thank You Community 4

Fall 2010The newsletter of Skagit County Community Action

Mary never expected to be a single mom or sole provider for her children, but when her

husband left unexpectedly, she had to do just that. Left with no support from her estranged husband, Mary had to fi nd resources to pay rent to keep a roof over her family’s head, to maintain telephone service so she could arrange job interviews, and to feed her children. Mary was used to donating to local food banks, but now had to ask for help keeping food on the table. Although she was humbled by her immediate need for assistance, she was referred to Community Action, where a compassionate staff person linked her with services that helped her to get back on her feet.

Community Action is often the “fi rst stop” for many individuals needing assistance, providing crucial services for those struggling for stability in the face of job loss, homelessness, or hunger. In the last couple of years, our agency has seen a 30% increase in individuals and families needing services. Though the need is daunting, our services change lives for the better. Whether in housing and homeless preven-tion, food and nutrition, literacy and job skills, crisis inter-vention, health care access, or volunteerism, Community Action ensures that people in need have a place to turn. In this edition of the newsletter, we highlight programs that encompass Housing and Shelter, which include:

1. William J. Shuler Family Development Center:houses up to 10 families with children in a private apart-ment while working with a Family Development Specialist to identify resources that will help them locate stable, per-manent housing and attain self-suffi ciency.

2. Skagit Housing Connections (SHC): is designed to be the fi rst-stop for families and individuals to individuals and families who are homeless or facing homelessness. SHC connects people with local resources, case management, and in some cases rental support.

A Focus on Housing and Shelter

3. Transitional Housing Programs: provides families with up to one year of rental assistance while they work closely with a case manager. Families pay a portion of their rent and are expected to set goals and attend classes to gain information on local resources, learn to budget fi nances and obtain skills to help them become employed.

4. Re-entry Housing: provides assistance and case management to individuals and families who have diffi culty fi nding stable housing due to criminal background.

5. Home Trust of Skagit / Community Land Trust: is designed to help home buyers in Skagit County secure affordable homes and achieve an equity return on their investment, while preserving affordability for the next home buyer.

6. Channel Cove Affordable Housing Complex: a 22-unit affordable housing complex located inLa Conner (see photo below). At present, the 22 units are available to rent at affordable rates to families at or below 50% of the Area Median Income.

In 2008, the William J. Shuler Family Development Center reopened after expanding from a four unit complex into a 10 unit complex with a learning center.

1

It has often been said that friends and family are life’s greatest treasure. How true. These bonds form the connections between us – and underneath us. If we fall, who is there to catch us? Who is the fi rst to pick us up? A strong and stable community also begins with the bonds of friendship, especially those marked by openness, trust and mutual respect. As an example, Community Action and its partners were recently awarded a competitive federal grant to house our community’s “chronically homeless,” - those who have been the longest on the street and many of whom have multiple barriers to stability. We were proud that among a strong fi eld of competitors, and despite the fact that we were relative newcomers to this fi eld, our application was ranked number one in the state.

Why? Simple: the strength of the Skagit friendships and partnerships that went into it. Our friends in this particular endeavor included Skagit County Community Services, who pledged mental health and substance abuse counseling to the chronically homeless we housed; Skagit Valley College, who promised to pro-vide a pathway to a brighter future to all who were ready to proceed, the Department of Corrections, which is investing in strategies that break the cycle of recidivism; and even private local landlords, with whom our staff have been working in close partnership for years, and who now trust us to support our homeless clients to be good neighbors and successful tenants. Relationships are the stuff of community building, and of Community Action, and even at our busiest, it’s impossible to miss that now more than ever we need each other.

Of Friends and Family Bill Henkel, Executive Director

Continued on page 3

Skagit County Community Action

330 Pacifi c PlaceMount Vernon, WA 98273

360.416.7585360.416.7599 fax

www.skagitcap.org

Channel Cove Affordable Housing Complex in La Conner.

2

PPPeoples Bank is pleased to announce the addition of its newest Community Connections partner, Skagit County Community

Action. The Community Connections Certifi cate of Deposit is a community-focused certifi cate that is available at all Skagit and Whatcom locations.

Peoples Bank Community Connections provides a quarterly donation when customers open a Community Connections Certifi cate of Deposit. Customers that

select a Community Connections certifi cate will earn a competitive rate of return and support to the local community at the same time.

For more information, please visit your local Peoples Bank or contact Community Action at 360.416.7585 or visit www.skagitcap.org.

“The impact that Community Action has had on the lives of Skagit County residents is inspiring,” commented Tony Repanich, Executive Vice President of Retail Banking and Marketing. “The Bank is happy to partner with such a dedicated community advocate.”

In August 2008, the William J. Shuler Family Development Center opened its doors

to provide short-term housing for up to 10 homeless families. Word got out and it is now serving more families than ever! Community Action had launched its fi rst ever capital campaign to expand the four unit shelter into 10 units, featuring a Family Learning Center, and after much fundraising and community support, the shelter was ready to welcome families in need. Jennifer Milton, shelter manager, says families (adult ages 18-35) with young children (birth to fi ve years) are the highest population served. Milton also states that the residents are “normal people like you and me and we always have more than four units occupied, so the shelter expansion was defi nitely needed”. In 2009, 55% of residents identifi ed themselves as white and 31% identifi ed as Hispanic/Latino. Since its reopening, the shelter has housed over 200 families and provided case management services helping the majority of them move into stable housing through the different housing programs offered at Community Action as well as others in the community. Although at times there is a waiting list, most eligible clients are served in a timely manner. To be eligible, clients must be parents (children living with them at least 50% of the time); have no sex offender convictions; and pass a background check. Residents must stay clean and sober during their stay.

William J. ShulerFamily Development Center

Common questions people have regarding the shelter: Q: How is the shelter different than the Friendship House or other shelters?

A: The shelter provides each family their own private apartment (including kitchen and bathroom) allowing them to stay together during a diffi cult time. Priority goes to single dads.

Q: How long can families stay at the shelter? A: Up to 60 days.

Q: What kind of support services do they receive while at the shelter?

A: All families work with a case manager to help them navigate the services they need to move on towards self-suffi ciency.

Q: How are you funded? A: We receive some grant and corporate

funding but we rely on individual donors and in-kind donations.

Q: What kind of in-kind donations does the shelter need?

A: Phone cards, bus tickets, and free family activities (movie tickets, museum passes, etc.) are always popular items. On our website, there is an updated ‘wish list’ that changes as the needs of our clients change.

SHELTER PHOTOS: (from top) A couple (not shown are their four children) in front of the Family Development Center; kitchen and dining area; living room; and a standard bedroom.“ Before the (Housing Connections)

program, I felt like I was fi ghting against a strong current I couldn’t get past. Not being able to afford rent, diapers, phone, food, gas, anything – not to mention the past due bills I had. Now, I still feel somewhat similar, but more in control. I am scraping by on the diapers, food, and gas. My bills are still outstanding, but I can at least pay rent.

I’m getting rid of my (home) phone but keeping my cell, so that’s good. I feel like I can see an opening – a way out of this hole but the childcare situation is making that more of a chal-lenge, but I think I may have found a way over that hump as well. I’m sim-ply working when and how I can and doing what I need to do for now. - former client

How to Donate:Make checks payable to:

Skagit County Community Action Agency or SCCAA

Mail to:330 Pacifi c PlaceMount Vernon, WA 98273for your convenience, please use the enclosed envelope.

For on-line donations, please visit:www.skagitcap.org

Thank you for your support!

Skagit County Community Action is a private, non-profi t

organization and your tax-deductable donation is much

appreciated.

Please consider becoming a

monthly donor!

“

3

Local elected offi cials were among the many who attended the Skagit Volun-teer Center grand opening in memory of Bill McIlraith: (from left to right) County Commissioner Sharon Dillon, Congressman Jeff Morris, Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell, and Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris.

What’s been

going onOn April 29, the Volunteer Lawyer Program partnered with the Skagit County Law Library and Skagit Valley College’s Paralegal Program to hold a day-long ‘Free Law Day’ clinic, where 23 attorneys and 6 interpreters volun-teered to provide 112 legal consults at the clinic.

On April 30, the Skagit County Bar and Volunteer Lawyer Program celebrated Law Day by honoring Letty Alvarez with the Liberty Bell Award at the Law Day dinner and silent auction. The auction generated over $1,000 for the Volunteer Lawyer Program.

On May 26, the Skagit Volunteer Center held its grand opening. Com-munity and family members came together to celebrate volunteerism, dedicating the center in memory of Bill McIlraith who was a 20 year volunteer in our Chore Program. In Bill’s memory, friends and family donated over $1,700 to the volunteer center!

Our Skagit Literacy programs ended the year strong with 100% of students showing improved scores at local elementary schools with the help of many volunteers. Way to go students! Way to go volunteers!!

A dental outreach day was conduct-ed in Concrete - the fi rst time in several years. Other dental outreach sites are in Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and Sedro-Woolley. Procedures include restorative care, root canals, extractions, and other oral surgery.

This spring, the Victory Garden project launched encouraging com-munity members to grow and donate excess produce to local food banks.

On July 31, the 2nd annual Bite of Skagit fundraiser, organized by North Coast Credit Union, raised over $6,700 to be used to support the Skagit Food Distribution Center’s efforts to increase the amount of local produce available to families that rely on Skagit County’s 13 food banks and 6 hot meal programs. Visit www.biteofskagit.org for highlights and photos!

For more visit: www.skagitcap.org

On May 22, 2010, 130 runners and walkers and over 50 volunteers braved the weather in support of Com-munity Action’s

fi rst annual Have a Heart Run fundraiser. The 10k run and 2 mile run/walk course ran along the beautiful Skagit River dike just south of Edge-water Park in Mount Vernon. Children of all ages participated, helping us raise over $10,000! Awards were given to the top times for both male and female in each division. 10K Division:

Kevin Olsen - 36:07Dena Goder - 44:04

2 Mile Division:Tracy Tesarik - 22:47 Lester Bradford - 25:14

Another major part of this event was that runners were encouraged to seek pledges to raise additional money for one of the six major

Community with a Heartfocus areas or for whereever the need is great-est. Runners who raised the most pledges for an area of focus received a basket put together by the staff in that area. Here are the top earners for each area of focus:

1. Crisis Intervention: Theresa Westfall 2. Housing and Shelter: Ken Dahlstedt 3. Food Access and Nutrition: Mary Evitt 4. Health Care Access: Christine Johnson 5. Education, Literacy, and Job Skills: Mary Clarity 6. Volunteerism: Jenn Cline 7. Area of Greatest Need: Eric Irelan

The success doesn’t end there as over 50 volunteers (a total of 211 hours) contributed their time and effort making this a fun and safe and very successful fundraiser. Special thanks to the 20 volunteers from Whidbey Island Navy base who utilized this event as part of a com-munity service and team building event. We look forward to next year’s event and hope to see you there!

Of Friends and Family continued from page 1 Other examples? The Skagit Food Bank Distribution Center is moving toward achieving its goal of doubling the quan-tity and quality of the food available to the quarter of our population who rely on food banks to feed their families. Owned by the County, managed by Community Action, co-located with Helping Hands, supported bycountless partners, and accessible to all 13 of our local food banks and fi ve hot meal programs, the Food Distribution Center could only exist in open partnership and side by side effort. Consider our Skagit Literacy program, which could only exist through volunteerism and in partner-ship with the college and our area school districts. Or Wash-ington Reading Corps and its network of 31 local schools. Or our Volunteer Lawyer Pro-gram, and its 80 participating attorneys. Think of our friends from North Coast Credit Union, whose staff organized the ex-traordinarily successful Bite of Skagit this past July 31. Or Puget Sound Energy, who is hosting the upcoming “Grapes by the Lake” fundraiser on September 17 (see page 4), to

benefi t us, as well as two other charities. Think even of the interconnected network of 1,562 volunteers connected to our agency who last year provided 133,107 hours of service to our community. Indeed, think of the staff of our more than 35 programs who build friendships and relation-ships with each other and in the community – not just to enjoy and learn from one another, but to more fully and effectively serve our clientele as they work through the multitude of barriers that stand in the way of self suffi ciency. Of course, as a private nonprofi t, to survive we must be scrappy, nimble, even competitive.

After all, we want to increase services available to this com-munity. But in the long run, we believe the only way we will thrive as an organization, and as a community, is through the network and bonds of healthy relationships. From there will fl ow the volunteers, supporters, and the creative and cooperative strategies to take on our most diffi cult challenges, to get through trying times, and to set the stage for future generations – our friends and family of tomorrow.

?

Terry Belcoe (left) President and CEO of North Coast Credit Union and Graham Kerr, Celebrity Chef at this years Bite of Skagit. NCCU won the prestigious Legacy Award for their effort behind making this event so successful!

Mark your calendars! Next year’s Have a Heart Run is on May 14, 2011!

330 Pacifi c PlaceMount Vernon, WA 98273www.skagitcap.org

A United Way Agency

There are so many to thank who helped make Community Action’s fi rst annual Have a Heart Run a success. Support for this run was evident with all three County Commissioners (Sharon Dillon, Ken Dahlstedt, Ron Wesen) walking in support of Community Action along with 130 runners/walkers and over 50 volunteers, helping us raise over $10,000! Special thanks to our sponsors Puget Sound Energy, Skagit State Bank, and Community Action Board of Directors as well as to Skagit Runners for making this run possible. Local businesses were generous in donat-ing items for the random drawings and County Produce hooked us up with plenty of fruit for our hungry runners and walkers. In addition, our run would not have happened without the help from the land owners along

Penn Road for allowing our course to run on their property, Attorney John Shultz, and all the staff and volunteers who helped plan and execute the event! Photos and race results are posted on our website at www.skagitcap.org.

- Susan Lange, Race Coordinator

2010Upcoming Events

Sept. 1 Skagit County Project Homeless Connect This is a one-day, one-stop event connecting homeless in-dividuals and families to services including medical, optom-etry, dental, legal, housing, public benefi ts, haircuts, child care services, food, and other human services. Volunteers are still needed to help with this event.

Sept. 17 Grapes by the Lake Fundraiser

October and NovemberThe Volunteer Lawyer Program and Skagit Valley College (SVC) are organizing a series of community education ses-sions in October and November 2010 held at SVC. Local practitioners will provide information about areas of law such as estate planning and probate, domestic relations, bankruptcy, foreclosure, landlord-tenant, and collection lawsuits and credit reports. For dates and times, please visit www.skagitcap.org.

4

Community In Action is a biannual publication of Skagit County Community Action Agency.

The mission of

Community Action is to

foster and advocate for

self-suffi ciency among

low-income people in

Skagit County.