Mortgage Payment Assistance Program (MPA) is now open

Online applications to Oregon homeowners are now open for the state’s new Mortgage Payment Assistance (MPA) program at www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. Applications for the program will be open until Jan. 14, 2011.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) has opened its intake offices in Linn and Lincoln counties to assist homeowners who have completed the online applications and to assist those who don’t have computer access.

“We are pleased to have John Cronkrite leading CSC’s part in helping Oregon homeowners with mortgage problems apply for assistance in Linn and Lincoln counties,” said Martha Lyon, Executive Director of CSC. “John, as administrator of the Mortgage Payment Assistance program and his staff are in the offices ready to help.”

CSC's MPA Offices open in Linn and Lincoln Counties
In Linn and Lincoln counties, Community Services Consortium (CSC) Mortagage Payment Assistance intake offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Appointments by telephone 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Albany: MPA intake office: 250 Broadalbin Street., SW, Suite 102.
Phone (541)-981-2523
Lebanon: MPA intake office: 300 Market Street, Suite 101.
Phone (541) 570-1712
Newport: MPA intake office: 120 NE Avery Street. Phone (541) 265-2991
Benton County: for information, call Willamette Neighborhood Housing at (541) 752-7220

Program participants will be randomly selected from eligible applicants by a secure software program and notified soon after the application’s closing date. The program is not first-come, first-served. All eligible homeowners who apply within the application period will have an opportunity to receive help with their mortgage payment.

Coalition Raises Money and Food for Regional Food Banks

Rob Hess President, of the Oregon State University (OSU) Coalition of Graduate Employees and Mindy Crandall, Treasure, presented Mike Gibson, Director of Linn Benton Food Share (left) with a check for $577 for Linn Benton Food Share.

The Coalition of Graduate Employees at OSU joined with a similar group from the University of Oregon (UO) to raise money and food for their regional food banks. The money and food were collected at a concert held the evening before the Civil War football game.

“We were amazed at how much we were able to do together. We gave the canned food to Food for Lane County in Eugene and the money went to Linn Benton Food Share here in Corvallis, “ said Hess.

On The Road

Dennis Feeney, Community Services Consortium (CSC) Weatherization Trainer, monitors student taking CSC’s BPI Building Analyst training in Newport.

CSC’s Workforce & Education Department took their show on the road when it came to training. Jerry McGuire and Dennis Feeney, both Weatherization Trainers, along with Project Assistant, Bryer Thompson took their mobile unit to Newport for BPI (Building Performance Institute) Building Analyst Certification training.

Four individuals took the training and successfully passed an exam to earn their certification after a week of training. Having certification allows its bearer to inspect homes for energy efficiency through a certified company or agency.

“This is our first complete training using the mobile unit,” said McGuire. “It was a complete success and we are on the schedule to do more training away from our Training Center in Corvallis.”

Food stamp usage soars

The US food stamps program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is currently growing at a rate of about 20,000 people a day, according to new data from the USDA.

The number of people receiving food stamps in August 2009 stood at 36.5m, the newly released figures show, up by more than a quarter compared to a year ago, when 29.5m people were enrolled with the program.

Its rapid growth rate comes as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals the highest level of American food insecurity ever recorded, with 17 million households, or 14.6 percent, struggling to put food on the table at times during 2008. The department began nationally representative food security surveys in 1995.

From FOOD Navigator -USA 01-Dec-2009

RSVP Receives Grant From the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde

Beth Fox, RSVP Director, (middle) at the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Headquarters, accepting a grant award of $5,000 for the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program (SHIBA) from Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Pictured with Fox are Chris Mercier, Tribal Council Member and Shelley Hanson, Fund Director.

10,000 people are turning age 65 every day in America, making Medicare a hot current issue. The 2010 Annual Enrollment Period is going strong, with Community Services Consortium’s (CSC's) RSVP/Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) volunteers assisting clients out of eight locations across Linn and Benton Counties. Volunteers meet one-on-one with individuals to explain their options in Medicare insurance. Volunteers in each county have also been teaching monthly workshops for those people that are new to Medicare or more extended Medicare A, B, C & D workshops – always packing the room.

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation Program helps the homeless become good tenants and it helps landlords find good tenants.

Second Chance graduates through their consistent attendance, and their determination to improve their lives and overcome obstacles, have proven themselves worthy of a "Second Chance”

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation class is being offered in Albany beginning January 24th. There are six 2-hr. classes; each class is taught by CSC staff except for the Landlord/Tenant class, taught by James Baldock of Legal Aid. To get a certificate, you must attend all six classes.
Call (541) 758-2798 for a registration form or for more information.

January 24: How to be a Good Tenant
January 26: Energy Education
January 31: Landlord/Tenant Issues
February 2: Money Management
February 7: Conflict Resolution
February 9: Goal Setting

Are Your Childrens's Immunization Records Up-To-Date?

Parents are reminded to check children’s immunization records — before exclusion day.

Required vaccines have changed for 2011

The Oregon Immunization Program wants to remind parents that now is the time to make sure kids’ vaccination records are complete. State law requires that all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities be up-to-date on their immunizations, or have a religious or medical exemption.

Parents or guardians will receive a letter in late January or early February 2011 if their child’s immunization record shows that he or she has not received the required vaccinations. Children will not be able to attend school or child care starting Feb. 16, 2011, if their records on file show missing immunizations.

Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or local health department, or call Oregon SafeNet at 1-800-SAFENET or 1-800-723-3638. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines.

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

CSC’s Emergency Services Program reports on their first year of an ARRA funded program to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless secure and maintain housing. The program is short-term rent assistance and helps people with move-in expenses or rent for one to three months.

Emergency Services:
Helped 282 homeless individuals get back into housing
Prevented 633 individuals from becoming homeless
Average assistance per person: $371

The majority of these individuals and families were still in stable housing upon leaving the HPRP program. Emergency Services spent an average cost of $371 per person.