OHCAC celebrates Community Action Month

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Some people reading the onslaught of media coverage about the economic crisis are shocked to discover that millions of individuals and families are just one paycheck away from despair.

Community Action agencies, however, have known this for years, and they have developed an array of programs and services to help families.

Governor Ted Strickland has declared May Commun-ity Action Month in Ohio in recognition of the work agencies do to fight poverty on the local level.

“The financial crisis has been very hard on everyone, but it has hit low-income people the hardest,” said Joe Devany, Executive Director of the Ohio Heartland Community Action Com-mission which serves Marion, Crawford and Morrow Counties. “Low income people live paycheck to paycheck, have little or no sayings, often don’t qualify for unemployment benefits and have no health insurance. They already lack financial resources, but the loss of a paycheck or home just makes the situation worse.”

The Ohio Heartland Community Action Com-mission is using the backdrop of the economic crisis to create awareness of poverty in Marion, Crawford and Morrow Counties during National Community Action Month.

Ohio’s Community Action network consists of 52 agencies around the state serving the needs of low-income people in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The agencies administer nearly $500,000,000 in resources aimed at alleviating the problems of poverty in Ohio’s communities. They employ more than 6,000 people and provide service to nearly 800,000 Ohioans. Programs include home heating assistance, weatherization, food pantries, Head Start and Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Nationwide, Community Action Agencies help 13 million Americans escape poverty and achieve financial stability.

Community Action Month also calls attention to poverty-related problems and the initiatives Commun-ity Action Agencies implement to address them.

“This year’s Community Action Month commemoration comes at a time when we all are facing very difficult and uncertain economic times,” said Don Mathis, President and CEO of the Community Action Partner-ship in Washington D.C.“Over the last year, our Community Action Agencies have seen many new faces needing assistance – people who have never had to ask for help before. It’s been tough all around, but we are so fortunate to have Community Action Agencies like Ohio Heartland Commun-ity Action Commis-sion ready to help people change their lives.”